shelf paper

noun

1. paper used for covering shelves, especially those of a cupboard or kitchen cabinet.

Word History and Origins

Origin of shelf paper¹

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

When Andrew Raftery, a master engraver and professor of printmaking at Rhode Island School of Design, decided to make wallpaper, he chose an 18th century French format called domino — small sheets printed on a letterpress, which were originally produced by stationers as shelf paper and box liners.

From Seattle Times

Remember about 20 years ago when some Target stores began selling groceries, allowing you to buy bananas and breakfast cereal along with your underwear and shelf paper?

From Washington Post

During one outage, with food running out in Maracaibo, he inspects families’ cupboards and finds them “so bare, so clean” it seemed “someone had run the palm of their hand across the shelf paper to pick up any crumbs that might have remained.”

From New York Times

Mrs. Parish loved Christmas and had specific traditions: Presents were wrapped in crisp white shelf paper with bright red ribbon, and Rigaud Cypres candles were paired with bouquets of paperwhites, said Ms. Harris.

From New York Times

She wasn’t going to let our living room be graced by a tacky box that looked like it was covered in adhesive shelf paper.

From Washington Post