[See quot. 1880, which may be correct; but earlier authority is wanted.] A very thin soft gauze-like unsized paper, used for wrapping delicate articles, for covering engravings or other illustrations in books, as copying-paper, etc.
Various grades are distinguished, as silver tissue, specially prepared for wrapping silver ware; copying tissue, for copying letters, etc.; printing tissue: see TISSUE sb. 6.
1777. Henly, in Phil. Trans., LXVII. 114. A number of circular pieces of tissue-paper.
1815. J. Smith, Panorama Sci. & Art, II. 161. The paper must be of that kind called tissue or silver paper.
1854. Phemie Millar, 24. Encasing in tissue paper a set of ivory handled knives.
1865. Lowell, Wks. (1890), V. 285. Leaping through a hoop with nothing more substantial to resist than tissue-paper.
1880. Birdwood, Ind. Arts, II. 75. The flimsy paper called tissue-paper was originally made to place between the tissue to prevent its fraying or tarnishing when folded.
