paperweight

[ pey-per-weyt ]

noun

1. a small, heavy object of glass, metal, etc., placed on papers to keep them from scattering.

paperweight

/ ˈpeɪpəˌweɪt /

noun

1. a small heavy object placed on loose papers to prevent them from scattering

Word History and Origins

Origin of paperweight¹

First recorded in 1855–60; paper + weight

Example Sentences

Ms Maguire said it reached crisis point with an incident when the boy threw a heavy paperweight at her head.

From BBC

Bags of rice and barley from past quality inspections act as paperweights for stacks of files and manuals.

From Los Angeles Times

There are exhibits on geology, the environment, art, various artifacts from the Civil War, paperweights, antique cameras and even a miniature Samoan village.

From Seattle Times

The gold wrapping paper hides a red box Shiv opens to discover . . . a scorpion inside a paperweight.

From Salon

“And for the two years prior to that,” he said, “it was pretty much a paperweight.”

From New York Times