papery

[ pey-puh-ree ]

adjective

1. like paper; thin or flimsy:

   the papery petals of the narcissus.

ˈpapery

/ ˈpeɪpərɪ /

adjective

1. like paper, esp in thinness, flimsiness, or dryness

Derived Forms

• ˈpaperiness, noun

Other Words From

• paper·i·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of papery¹

First recorded in 1620–30; paper + -y ¹

Example Sentences

At the hospital, Ms. Amin’s twins, Iman and Ayman, lay with thin limbs and papery skin.

From New York Times

The delicate wonton skins turned overly dry and papery after the deep fry, rendering the filling bland and forgettable, in stark contrast to the juicy dumplings found elsewhere at the table.

From Seattle Times

He rubs off the papery chaff with his fingers, parboils them and covers them with seasoned rice vinegar in a jar for 24 hours.

From Seattle Times

Hardneck garlic has bigger, more uniform cloves and a thicker skin that is easier to peel, whereas softneck has a larger number of smaller cloves with a papery skin that’s hard to peel.

From Los Angeles Times

Hardneck garlic has bigger, more uniform cloves and a thicker skin that is easier to peel, whereas softneck has a larger number of smaller cloves with a papery skin that’s hard to peel.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• chiffon
• decrepit
• feeble
• insubstantial
• rickety
• shaky
• tacky