Paper Is Named After Papyrus, Which Is Not Paper
Paper is a material made from pressed plant fibres. It takes its name from papyrus, which is made differently.
Paper is a material made by pressing together moistened plant fibres and drying them into sheets. Papyrus, which gave paper its name, is technically not paper at all: it is made by laying strips of reed pith in two layers and pressing them, without ever reducing the plant to separate fibres. True paper was invented in China around the second century and reached Europe over a thousand years later. The distinction matters to conservators, since the two materials age quite differently.
- A fibre sheet material. *A sheet of paper.*
- A newspaper. *The morning paper.*
- An academic article. *A research paper.*
- Papyrus — the ancestor material. *Egyptian papyrus.*
- Pulp — the fibre slurry. *Wood pulp.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | paper | Writing paper. |
| Plural | papers | Old papers. |
| Verb | paper | Paper the room. |
| Related | papyrus | Papyrus. |
| Greek | papyros | The reed. |
- Print it on thicker paper.Material.
- Papyrus is not technically paper.Distinction.
- Paper was invented in China.History.
How paper differs from papyrus
- Paper — plant fibres separated, suspended in water, then matted
- Papyrus — strips of pith laid crosswise and pressed
- Paper can be made from almost any fibrous plant or from rags
- Papyrus requires the specific reed
- Invented in China around 105, reaching Europe in the twelfth century
Anglo-French *papir*, from Latin *papyrus*, from Greek *papyros*, the paper reed of Egypt.
Is papyrus a kind of paper?
Technically no. Papyrus is made from pressed strips of reed, while paper is made from fibres separated and matted together.
Where was paper invented?
In China, traditionally credited to Cai Lun around the year 105, though earlier examples exist.