Etymology Map
Back to all words

Papier-mache

4 stages from Late Latin to English.

Today it means a material made from paper pulp, used for molding into objects

Where does the word "papier-mache" come from? It comes from Late Latin masticare, passing through Old French and French before entering English (1753).

1
Stage 1 of 4
masticare
Late Latin · ancient
"to chew"
the verb of chewing
2
Stage 2 of 4
macher
Old French · medieval
"to chew"
kept the sense of chewing
3
Stage 3 of 4
papier mache
French · 1750s
"chewed paper; paper pulp"
literally 'chewed paper', describing paper pulped into a moldable paste
4
Stage 4 of 4
papier-mache
English · 1753
"a molded paper-pulp material"
adopted whole for the craft material and its manufacturing process
Drag to pan · scroll to zoom