English
kaolin
Kaolin comes from French kaolin, and goes back to Chinese 高嶺土 ‘Gaoling earth’.
- Chinesemodern高嶺土gāolǐngtǔ‘Gaoling earth’
- Frenchc. 1600–presentkaolin
- Englishearliest quotation 1757same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history not traced here.
Lineage
- Chinesemodern高嶺土gāolǐngtǔ‘Gaoling earth’
- Frenchc. 1600–presentkaolin
- Englishearliest quotation 1757same form
Earliest quotation: 1757, The Handmaid to the Arts: “The composition of the Eastern or proper China ware,…”
Every English word from Chinese 高嶺土
Today it means
noun A fine clay, rich in kaolinite, used in ceramics, papermaking, etc.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Chinese 高嶺土 / kaolin