'china' originates from Persian, specifically the word 'chīnī,' where 'chīn' referred to the country of China, known for its porcelain.

'chīnī' transformed into the French word 'chine,' and eventually became the modern English word 'china' through Middle English.

Initially, it referred to the country of China, but over time it evolved to also mean the fine porcelain material associated with the country.