china-clay
[f. china1 4 + clay.]
A fine white potter's clay, called also kaolin, derived from the felspar of disintegrated granitic rocks, employed in the manufacture of china or porcelain.
| 1840 Penny Cycl. XVIII. 472/1 For the better kinds, a portion of China-clay..is added. 1879 Manch. Guard. 25 Jan., Mixings of size which contained among other things..glue and China clay. |
b. attrib.
| 1875 Ure Dict. Arts I. 810 The depth of the China-clay pits is various, extending from twenty feet to fifty feet. 1888 Daily News 10 July 5/1 China-clay works are the chief offenders. Many of the Cornish streams are like rivers of milk from the..fine kaolin with which they are charged. |