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Stage 1 of 3
porcellana
Italian · medieval
"a cowrie shell, little pig"
literally little pig, originally the name of a cowrie shell whose curved sheen resembled a pig's back
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Stage 2 of 3
porcelaine
French · 1500s
"fine, glossy ceramic ware"
transferred from the glossy shell to the glossy fine ceramic imported from China
3
Stage 3 of 3
porcelain
English · 1590s
"fine, translucent ceramic ware"
settled as the English word for fine translucent ceramic ware
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