Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun Any of a breed of large black-and-white swine developed in the United States.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun An American breed of hogs originating in Ohio in 1840 as the result of crossing several breeds, including the Poland and BigChina. The original Poland-China, a large, coarse animal, was crossed with the Berkshire and the modern breed is a black and white pig that yields a large amount of merchantable meat.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Probably so called because it was developed from Big China swine (a breed of swine ultimately of Chinese origin) in the 1800s by the Shakers, and the first non-Shaker allowed to acquire swine of the breed was a farmer who had emigrated from Poland to Ohio.]

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Examples

  • He described a brothers-and-sisters mating experiment that had been conducted with a breed of swine known as Poland China, yielding various symptoms of inbreeding depression after just two generations.

    The Song of The Dodo David Quammen 2004

  • He described a brothers-and-sisters mating experiment that had been conducted with a breed of swine known as Poland China, yielding various symptoms of inbreeding depression after just two generations.

    The Song of The Dodo David Quammen 2004

  • Just as they were about to head back into the house, Eli thought he heard the big Poland China boar snorting around the side of the veranda.

    Come Again No More Jack Todd 2010

  • Just then Willie Thaw came strolling up from the bunkhouse, trailed by Zeke Ketcham and the big spotted Poland China boar that followed Zeke everywhere.

    Come Again No More Jack Todd 2010

  • Just as he sat down at the table, Eli glanced out the window to see the Poland China boar tagging along after Zeke, snout between his boots.

    Come Again No More Jack Todd 2010

  • Just as he sat down at the table, Eli glanced out the window to see the Poland China boar tagging along after Zeke, snout between his boots.

    Come Again No More Jack Todd 2010

  • Just as he sat down at the table, Eli glanced out the window to see the Poland China boar tagging along after Zeke, snout between his boots.

    Come Again No More Jack Todd 2010

  • Just as they were about to head back into the house, Eli thought he heard the big Poland China boar snorting around the side of the veranda.

    Come Again No More Jack Todd 2010

  • Poland China hog:   Sort of a mini-UN on four legs

    Fictionaut, the Top Hat Cafe of the Internet 2010

  • Just then Willie Thaw came strolling up from the bunkhouse, trailed by Zeke Ketcham and the big spotted Poland China boar that followed Zeke everywhere.

    Come Again No More Jack Todd 2010

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