English
papyrus
Papyrus comes from Latin papȳrus ‘papyrus (plant)’, and goes back to Ancient Greek πάπυρος.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEπάπυροςpápuros‘the plant papyrus’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEpapȳrus‘papyrus (plant)’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500papirus‘papyrus (plant)’
- Englishtodaypapyrus
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEπάπυροςpápuros‘the plant papyrus’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEpapȳrus‘papyrus (plant)’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500papirus‘papyrus (plant)’
- Englishtodaypapyrus
The story
From Middle English papirus, borrowed from Latin papȳrus, from Ancient Greek πάπυρος (pápuros), of unknown origin.uncertain The source flags this step as uncertain.
Linked words
through Latin papȳrus ‘papyrus (plant)’
Today it means
noun A plant (Cyperus papyrus) in the sedge family, native to the Nile river valley, paper reed.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek πάπυρος / papyrus