[WRITING vbl. sb. 12 d + PAPER sb.]
1. A special make of paper, usu. with a smooth surface and sized, for writing upon; now esp., note-paper.
1548. Elyot, Epistolaris charta, writyng paper.
1596. Edward III., II. ii. Go, breake the thundring parchment bottome out,… I will vse it as my writing paper.
1600. J. Lane, Tom Tel-troth (1876), 113. If all the earth were writing paper made.
1686. Lond. Gaz., No. 2179/4. All sorts of Writing and Printing Paper.
1770. Phil. Trans., LX. 391. The film was not thicker than common writing-paper.
1809. Malkin, Gil Blas, VI. i. ¶ 4. Writing paper such as a secretary of state need not be ashamed of.
1879. Cassell’s Techn. Educ., III. 110/2. Strong and tough writing-papers for account-books.
attrib. 1827. Faraday, Chem. Manip., i. 23. A blank writing paper book … with pen and ink.
2. A sheet of this. rare–1.
a. 1777. in Evans, Old Ball., I. 255. A writing-paper … Upon his head he had to wear, which did his treason show.
