/
pəˈpʌɪrəs/
n.
(pl. papyri
/-rʌɪ, -riː/
or papyruses)
- a material prepared in ancient Egypt from the pithy stem of a water plant and used in the ancient Mediterranean world for writing or painting on.
- the tall aquatic sedge from which papyrus is obtained.
[Cyperus papyrus.]
Derivative
- papyrological adj.
- papyrologist n.
- papyrology n.
Etymology
ME: via L. from Gk papuros.