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OP The creator of the Online Etymology Dictionary states on his homepage that his favorite etymology is porcelain. So, of course, I had to check it out...and it is truly fascinating!:
porcelain - c.1530, from M.Fr. porcelaine,
from It. porcellana "porcelain," lit. "cowrie
shell," the chinaware so called from resemblance
to the shiny surface of the shells. The shell's
name in It. is from porcella "young sow," fem.
of L. porcellus "young pig," dim. of porculus
"piglet," dim. of porcus "pig." The shells were so
called because the shape of the orifice reminded
someone of the vaginas of pigs.
Now I'll never look at porcelain in quite the same way again!
Ladies?...(the usual suspects)
Entire Thread Subject Posted By Posted Strange Origins-the etymology of porcelain WhitmanO'Neill 03/19/02 03:42 PM Re: Strange Origins-the etymology of porcelain AnnaStrophic 03/19/02 03:46 PM Re: Strange Origins-the etymology of porcelain WhitmanO'Neill 03/19/02 04:02 PM harrumph® AnnaStrophic 03/19/02 04:28 PM Re: harrumph® wwh 03/19/02 04:44 PM Re: harrumph® Rubrick 03/20/02 09:24 AM Re: harrumph® Keiva 03/20/02 09:25 PM Re: harrumph® boronia 03/22/02 01:39 PM Re: harrumph® Keiva 03/19/02 04:50 PM Re: harrumph® wwh 03/19/02 06:41 PM Re: harrumph® wwh 03/19/02 07:43 PM Re: cowries--"birthing shells" WhitmanO'Neill 03/19/02 08:30 PM Re: cowries--"birthing shells" wwh 03/19/02 08:44 PM Shells!!!! consuelo 03/22/02 12:34 PM
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