Pā'per1, n.
n. [Fr. & Pr. papier, Catalan paper, Sp. & Pg. papel, It. papiro, D. & Ger. papier, from Lat. papyrus, Gr. πάπυρος, paper-reed, an Egyptian plant, from which a kind of paper was made by cutting its inner rind into slips, and gluing them together transversely, It. & Sp. papiro, Pg. papyro, Pr. papiri. Cf. PAPYRUS.]
Sense 1. A substance in the form of thin sheets or leaves intended to be written or printed on, to be used in wrapping, &c., and made of a pulp obtained from rags, from straw, from bark, or like materials, pressed and dried.
Sense 2. A sheet, leaf, or piece of such substance.
Sense 3. A printed or written instrument; a document, essay, or the like; a writing.
They brought a paper to me to be signed. Dryden.
Sense 4. Hence, a printed sheet appearing periodically; a newspaper; a journal.
Sense 5. Hence, also, negotiable evidences of indebtedness; notes; bills of exchange; bank-notes, and the like.
Sense 6. Hangings printed or stamped; paper for covering the walls of rooms.
This word is often used in forming compounds, which need no special explanation; as, paper-case, paper-cutter, paper-folder, paper-holder, paper-knife, paper-maker, paper-making, paper-marbling, paper-mill, paper-ruler, paper-warehouse, and the like.
Laid paper. See LAID.—Paper credit, credit founded upon evidences of debt, upon paper money, &c.—Paper kite, a light frame covered with paper, for flying in the air like a kite.—Paper money, notes or bills issued by authority, and promising the payment of money, circulated as the representative of coin. The word is usually applied to notes or bills issued by a state, or by an authorized banking corporation.—Waste paper, paper thrown aside as worthless or valueless, except for wrapping, burning, &c.—Wove paper, paper with a uniform surface, and not ribbed or water-marked, like laid paper.