a. [ L. porca a ridge between two furrows. ] (Zool.) Having grooves or furrows broader than the intervening ridges; furrowed. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. porcelaine, It. porcellana, orig., the porcelain shell, or Venus shell (Cypræa porcellana), from a dim. fr. L. porcus pig, probably from the resemblance of the shell in shape to a pig's back. Porcelain was called after this shell, either on account of its smoothness and whiteness, or because it was believed to be made from it. See Pork. ] A fine translucent or semitransculent kind of earthenware, made first in China and Japan, but now also in Europe and America; -- called also China, or China ware. [ 1913 Webster ]

Porcelain, by being pure, is apt to break. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ivory porcelain, porcelain with a surface like ivory, produced by depolishing. See Depolishing. --
Porcelain clay. See under Clay. --
Porcelain crab (Zool.), any crab of the genus Porcellana and allied genera (family Porcellanidæ). They have a smooth, polished carapace. --
Porcelain jasper. (Min.) See Porcelanite. --
Porcelain printing, the transferring of an impression of an engraving to porcelain. --
Porcelain shell (Zool.), a cowry. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) Purslain. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Geol.) Baked like potter's lay; -- applied to clay shales that have been converted by heat into a substance resembling porcelain. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. porcelanite. ] (Min.) A semivitrified clay or shale, somewhat resembling jasper; -- called also porcelain jasper. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. 1. Of or pertaining to porcelain; resembling porcelain; as, porcelaneous shells. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) Having a smooth, compact shell without pores; -- said of certain Foraminifera. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. Porcelaneous. Ure. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. porche, L. porticus, fr. porta a gate, entrance, or passage. See Port a gate, and cf. Portico. ] 1. (Arch.) A covered and inclosed entrance to a building, whether taken from the interior, and forming a sort of vestibule within the main wall, or projecting without and with a separate roof. Sometimes the porch is large enough to serve as a covered walk. See also Carriage porch, under Carriage, and Loggia. [ 1913 Webster ]

The graceless Helen in the porch I spied
Of Vesta's temple. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A portico; a covered walk. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Repair to Pompey's porch, where you shall find find us. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Porch, a public portico, or great hall, in Athens, where Zeno, the philosopher, taught his disciples; hence, sometimes used as equivalent to the school of the Stoics. It was called "h poiki`lh stoa`. [See Poicile.] [1913 Webster]

a. [ L. porcinus, from porcus a swine. See Pork. ] Of or pertaining to swine; characteristic of the hog. “Porcine cheeks.” G. Eliot. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. porkepyn, porpentine, OF. porc-espi, F. porc-épic (cf. It. porco spino, porco spinoso, Sp. puerco espino, puerco espin, fr. L. porcus swine + spina thorn, spine). The last part of the French word is perhaps a corruption from the It. or Sp.; cf. F. épi ear, a spike of grain, L. spica. See Pork, Spike a large nail, Spine. ] 1. (Zool.) Any Old Word rodent of the genus Hystrix, having the back covered with long, sharp, erectile spines or quills, sometimes a foot long. The common species of Europe and Asia (Hystrix cristata) is the best known. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) Any species of Erethizon and related genera, native of America. They are related to the true porcupines, but have shorter spines, and are arboreal in their habits. The Canada porcupine (Erethizon dorsatus) is a well known species. [ 1913 Webster ]

Porcupine ant-eater (Zool.), the echidna. --
Porcupine crab (Zool.), a large spiny Japanese crab (Acantholithodes hystrix). --
Porcupine disease (Med.). See Ichthyosis. --
Porcupine fish (Zool.), any plectognath fish having the body covered with spines which become erect when the body is inflated. See Diodon, and Globefish. --
Porcupine grass (Bot.), a grass (Stipa spartea) with grains bearing a stout twisted awn, which, by coiling and uncoiling through changes in moisture, propels the sharp-pointed and barbellate grain into the wool and flesh of sheep. It is found from Illinois westward. See Illustration in Appendix. --
Porcupine wood (Bot.), the hard outer wood of the cocoa palm; -- so called because, when cut horizontally, the markings of the wood resemble the quills of a porcupine. [ 1913 Webster ]