cap-paper
(ˈkæpˌpeɪpə(r))
[See below.]
1. A kind of wrapping paper: the precise application has apparently varied from time to time.
| 1577 Richmond. Wills (1853) 269, Vj quare of capp paper, xijd., xij quaire of paper. 1583 J. Higins Junius' Nomenclator 6 (N.) Packe paper or cap-paper, such paper as mercers..use to wrappe their ware in. 1634 Althorp MS. in Simpkinson Washingtons Introd. 65, 4 quire of cappe paper to pack up y⊇ plate, 00 01 04. 1693 Robertson Phraseol. Gen. 973 Cap paper or brown paper, wherein grocers wrap their ware. 1745 Stukeley Corr. I. 371 Send it to me by the carrier, tyed up in a bit of cap-paper. a 1847 Mrs. Sherwood Lady of Manor IV. xxiv. 92 She was offering to Henry a small parcel contained in cap-paper. 1877 E. Peacock N.W. Linc. Gloss. (E.D.S.) Cap-paper, a whity-brown, thin paper, such as milliners fold their wares in. |
† 2. Used as filter-paper. Obs.
| 1634 Bate Myst. Nature & Art 30 Strain them through a cap paper. 1667 Boyle Orig. Formes & Qual., Glasse Funnel lin'd with Cap-paper. 1704 J. Harris Lex. Techn. s.v. Caustick, Then filtrate through Cap-paper. 1788 Withering in Phil. Trans. LXXVIII. 321 Saturated with vegetable alkali it converted cap paper into touch paper. |
3. A size or kind of writing paper.
| 1854 Landor Lett. American 52 Meanwhile on what cap-paper were employed the unseasoned crow-quills of the Continent! 1875 Ure Dict. Arts III. 494. 1874 Knight Mech. Dict., Cap-paper, 1. a kind of writing paper. Ruled with blue lines, and folding on the back, it is foolscap; with red lines to form a margin on the left hand, and made to fold on the top, it is legal cap. 2. A size of paper from 7½ × 12 to 8½ × 14. |
[Probably, senses 1 and 3 are quite distinct in origin. Sense 1 has been conjectured to have originated in the use to which the paper was put, as a ‘cap’ to hold groceries, or as the material for the paper caps of workmen. Sense 3 may have been named from the watermark of a cap, employed to indicate a certain size. Cf. also ]