China Clay
/ˈtʃaɪ.nə ˌkleɪ/noun
A fine white clay, chiefly kaolin, used in ceramics, paper, paint, and other products.
Did you know?China clay is also called kaolin, from Gaoling—“High Ridge”—the Chinese locality where the clay was historically mined for porcelain production.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gley-
“To stick together or form a cohesive mass; the proposed deep root behind clay-related words.”
Proto-Germanic
Germanic
*klaijaz
“Clay or sticky earth; the reconstructed ancestor of the English word.”
Old English
Old English
clæg
“Clay, a sticky earthy substance used for shaping or coating.”
13th Century
Middle English
clay
“Clay or earthy material that can be molded.”
16th Century
English
China
“The name for the country, ultimately connected through European and earlier Asian forms with the Qin dynasty.”
18th Century
English
China clay
“A commercial term for the fine white kaolin clay imported from China and used in porcelain manufacture.”
Modern English
English
China clay
“Kaolin, a pale clay valued for its whiteness, fine texture, and industrial uses.”