paper rush
- noun
- Archaic
:
papiro
- Fibers from the paper rush were once essential for making papyrus scrolls.
Examples
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Ancient Egyptians cultivated the paper rush along the Nile for various uses.
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The paper rush is still found growing in marshy areas near the Nile.
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The paper rush grows abundantly along the Nile.
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Can you identify the paper rush in this photograph?
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Ancient Egyptians cultivated the paper rush along the Nile for various uses.
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Fibers from the paper rush were once essential for making papyrus scrolls.
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The paper rush is still found growing in marshy areas near the Nile.
Synonyms
1
8.9
A tall water plant with a stiff stem that grows along the Nile
A tall water plant like grass from the Nile whose stems were used to make paper in ancient Egypt
A tall plant from the Nile valley with strong stems used to make paper and mats
A tall marsh plant people use to make papyrus
A tall plant from the Nile whose stems were used long ago to make papyrus
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound 'paper rush' is directly compositional: 'paper' (the material) modifies 'rush' (a marsh plant), indicating a type of rush used for making paper. This noun–noun modifier pattern is regular in English and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents should be able to infer the meaning.
Etymology
Paper rush names a tall marsh plant from the Nile whose long stems were used to make writing sheets in ancient Egypt. People called it paper because it made the first 'paper' sheets and rush because it is a rush plant, so the name refers to the plant used to make early paper.