papyrus

[ puh-pahy-ruhs ]

noun

, plural pa·py·ri [p, uh, -, pahy, -rahy, -ree], pa·py·rus·es.

1. a tall, aquatic plant, Cyperus papyrus, of the sedge family, native to the Nile valley: the Egyptian subspecies, C. papyrus hadidii, thought to be common in ancient times, now occurs only in several sites.
2. a material on which to write, prepared from thin strips of the pith of this plant laid together, soaked, pressed, and dried, used by the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans.
3. an ancient document, manuscript, or scroll written on this material.

papyrus

/ pəˈpaɪrəs /

noun

1. a tall aquatic cyperaceous plant, Cyperus papyrus, of S Europe and N and central Africa with small green-stalked flowers arranged like umbrella spokes around the stem top
2. a kind of paper made from the stem pith of this plant, used by the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans
3. an ancient document written on this paper

Other Words From

• pa·pyral pa·pyr·i·an [p, uh, -, pir, -ee-, uh, n], pa·py·rine [p, uh, -, pahy, -rin], adjective
• pap·y·ri·tious [pap-, uh, -, rish, -, uh, s], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of papyrus¹

1350–1400; Middle English papirus < Latin papȳrus < Greek pápȳros

Word History and Origins

Origin of papyrus¹

C14: via Latin from Greek papūros reed used in making paper

Example Sentences

Wheat-based glues have a long history in bookbinding that originates in ancient Egyptian texts, which experts have partially attributed to the longevity of the world's collection of papyrus documents.

From Salon

The messenger unwraps the sash and gives me a small piece of papyrus.

From Literature

The Sumerians of Mesopotamia devised a love song by around 2000 BCE, and scholars of Ancient Egypt have found love songs inscribed into pottery and written on sheets of papyrus.

From Los Angeles Times

Both were molded from cartonnage, created by soaking strips of linen or old papyrus scrolls in a paste and laying them over a woodblock form or the actual head of a mummy.

From New York Times

In the 18th century hundreds of papyrus scrolls were discovered in the library of a luxurious a villa in the town - the only such library of texts from ancient Roman times to be discovered.

From BBC

Related Words

• card
• note
• pad
• poster
• sheet
• stationery