flypaper
UK[ˈflaɪpeɪpə]US[ˈflaɪpeɪpər]
n
A sticky paper that is hung indoors to catch flies.
Morpheme Breakdown
fly
paper
fly
paper
Etymology
The word 'flypaper' is a transparent compound noun formed in Modern English from the simple nouns 'fly' and 'paper'. 'Fly' originates from the Old English 'flēoge', referring to the insect, a term of Proto-Germanic origin. 'Paper' entered English via Old French from the Latin 'papyrus', which itself derives from the Greek 'papyros', the name for the plant used to make a writing material in ancient Egypt. The compound logically describes the object's primary function: it is a paper (or paper-like sheet) specifically designed to trap flies through the application of a sticky adhesive, a practical invention for household pest control.
Analysis
Structure: fly + paper
- fly (Old English flēoge): The insect, a common flying pest.
- paper (Latin papyrus via Old French papier): A thin material made from fibers, used for writing, wrapping, or other purposes.
Examples
The old kitchen had a strip of flypaper hanging near the window, dotted with trapped insects.
Before modern sprays, flypaper was a common and simple solution for dealing with flies.
He avoided putting up flypaper because he found the sight of it unpleasant.