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rag paper

rag paper

1 7.5
A sheet people make from old cloth that lasts a long time
  • noun
  • /ræɡ ˈpeɪpər/
  • Specialized
translation icon : papel de trapo
  • Finest rag paper, resistant to the passage of time.
  • cotton rag paper
  • sheet of rag paper

An inch of white impressed like watermarks on cotton rag paper over the pen strokes of residual grass.

Examples

  • I don't suppose there's any chance they could be from a cotton rag paper, something like that.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Now I've put down a piece of cotton rag paper, a piece of siliconized release film.

  • This all takes place on a piece of cotton rag paper, which is very fine and smooth.

  • Wood pulp paper was much cheaper and easier to produce than the rag paper that preceded it, but it was also less durable.

    Academic text (2004)
  • An inch of white impressed like watermarks on cotton rag paper over the pen strokes of residual grass.

  • In his word drawings (made with markers on six-by-nine-foot rag paper), he examines "complex daily memories and reactions" recorded in his diaries (Heap of Birds, "Thoughts").

    Academic text (2008)
  • This artwork was printed on high-quality cotton rag paper that enhances the colors beautifully.

  • Many artists prefer using rag paper for its durability and texture, which make their creations stand out.

  • For my next project, I plan to use 100% cotton rag paper to achieve a professional finish in my prints.

Synonyms

paper
vsrag paper
1.0

Thin material made from wood pulp used for writing, printing and wrapping

is made from textile scraps rather than wood pulp and is more durable
linen
vsrag paper
6 5.1

A high-quality paper with a fine feel used for invitations and certificates

is made from recycled textile scraps focused on long lasting quality
linen paper
vsrag paper
1 4.3

A high-quality paper that feels like linen and is used for formal letters

is made from recycled textile scraps rather than wood pulp for durability

How Durable

rag paper
  • Specialized
1 7.5
letter paper
  • US
1.0
newsprint
14 3.6
manifold paper
  • Archaic
8.1

Surface Forms

rag paper singular
rag papers plural

Morphology

rag + paper

The meaning 'paper made from textile rags' is directly and compositionally derived from 'rag' (cloth scraps) + 'paper' (thin sheets), so a learner who knows both words can infer the referent. The noun‑noun compound follows a common, literal formation found across languages, making it transparently interpretable by a B1 learner.

Etymology

Rag paper comes from old paper making when makers used cloth rags instead of wood to make paper. Because cloth threads made stronger sheets that kept their color and did not yellow, rag paper came to mean good, 'long-lasting' paper.