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Paper

4 stages from Greek to English.

Today it means material made from wood pulp for writing and printing

Where does the word "paper" come from? It comes from Greek papyros, passing through Latin and Old French before entering English (1300s).

papyros→papyrus→papier→paper

Greek · ancient

writing material made from Nile reeds

Latin · ancient

"papyrus plant"

Pliny described how Romans made writing sheets from strips of the reed

Old French · medieval

paper-making reached France from Spain in the 1100s

English · 1300s

"writing material"

replaced parchment for most uses after printing began

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Read the full story

Paper’s story begins in Greek: papyros meant “papyrus.” Writing material made from Nile reeds. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Latin as papyrus. Pliny described how Romans made writing sheets from strips of the reed. From there it passed into Old French as papier by medieval. Paper-making reached France from Spain in the 1100s. It reached English by 1300s as paper. Replaced parchment for most uses after printing began. Today, paper means material made from wood pulp for writing and printing.