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)