Where does “Chyna” come from?
Chyna (English) comes from English china, from English China, from Portuguese china, from Medieval Latin Sina, from Latin Sīnae, from Ancient Greek Σῖναι, from Arabic صِين, from Pahlavi čīn — {{w|Qin |State of Qin}}, {{w|Qin dynasty}}; Qin.
Ancestry of “Chyna”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | china | Synonym of porcelain, a hard white translucent... |
| 2 | English | China | A Chinese person; Alternative form of cheyney:... |
| 3 | Portuguese | china | a woman, especially one of Native American... |
| 4 | Medieval Latin | Sina | — |
| 5 | Latin | Sīnae | the Chinese, specifically |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | Σῖναι | the southern Chinese |
| 7 | Arabic | صِين | — |
| 8 | Pahlavi | čīn | — |
| 9 | Sanskrit | चीन | the Chinese people; China; a bandage for the... |
| 10 | Old Chinese | 秦 | {{w|Qin |State of Qin}}, {{w|Qin dynasty}}; Qin |