Etymograph

English

china

China comes from Persian چینی ‘Chinese’.

  1. Persianc. 900–presentچینیčīnī /čini‘Chinese’
  2. Englishearliest quotation 1624china

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Persianc. 900–presentچینیčīnī /čini‘Chinese’
  2. Englishearliest quotation 1624china

Earliest quotation: 1624, Democritus Junior pseudonym; Robert Burt, The Anatomy of Melancholy: […]: “China, saith Manardus, makes a good colour in the…”

The story

In reference to porcelain and porcelain objects, via clipping of chinaware and via this sense of Persian چینی (čīnī /čini) in Persia and India, which influenced the pronunciation (see below).

Every English word from Persian چینی

Today it means

noun Synonym of porcelain, a hard white translucent ceramic made from kaolin, now (chiefly US) sometimes distinguished in reference to tableware as fine or good china.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Persian چینی / china

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