papyrus
n.n. an ancient paper-like material made from the stems of a plant that grows in Egypt. People used it to write important documents and books thousands of years ago.
n. a paper-like material made from the pith of the Cyperus papyrus plant, used as a writing surface in ancient Egypt and the Mediterranean. Often refers to the physical scrolls or documents written on this medium.
The museum displays ancient scrolls made of papyrus.
Archaeologists discovered a well-preserved papyrus scroll containing a list of taxes from the time of the pharaohs.
The transition from papyrus to parchment in the late Roman Empire allowed for more durable manuscripts that could survive the humid conditions of the Mediterranean climate.
From Middle English papirus, borrowed from Latin papȳrus, from Ancient Greek πάπυρος (pápuros), of unknown origin. Doublet of papyros.