Chinaware
/ˈtʃaɪnəˌwɛr/noun
Tableware or decorative household dishes made of porcelain or fine ceramic.
Did you know?The “china” in chinaware originally meant porcelain imported from China, and in English it became so strongly associated with fine ceramics that “china” itself turned into a common word for dishes.
Etymological Timeline
16th Century
English
china
“Porcelain imported from China; later, porcelain in general.”
17th Century
English
chinaware
“Ware or goods made of china, especially dishes and decorative ceramics.”
17th Century
Portuguese
china
“China, the country; also porcelain associated with China in European trade.”
16th Century
Malay
cina
“China, the country.”
Ancient China
Chinese
Qín / China-related trade names
“Names associated with Chinese regions and export goods that eventually gave European languages their word for China.”
Explore more surprising origins