Main Entry:

pa·py·rus

Pronunciation:

\pə-ˈpī-rəs\

Function:

noun

Inflected Form(s):

plural pa·py·ri \-ˈpī-(ˌ)rē, -rī\ or pa·py·rus·es

Etymology:

Middle English, from Latin — more at paper

Date:

14th century

1: a tall perennial sedge (Cyperus papyrus) of the Nile valley2: the pith of the papyrus plant especially when made into strips and pressed into a material to write on3 a: a writing on papyrus b: a written scroll made of papyrus

[papyrus illustration]