papier-mâché

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“
The little girl is training herself for motherhood by lavishing caresses on wretched papier-mâché baby dolls.

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Definitions (2)

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  1. A material composed principally of paper (to which other substances may be added to impart special qualities), usually prepared by pulping a mass of paper to a doughy consistence, which can be molded into any desired form. Ornaments for panels and ceilings, picture-frames, and the like, anatomical models, jars, boxes, and even boats and car-wheels, are made from it. A finer sort is made by pasting together whole sheets of paper of a particular kind; in this way trays and dishes are made, a mold regulating the exact curve of the rim, etc., a thin tray often consisting of forty or fifty thicknesses of paper.
  2. Ceramic papier-mâché a papier- mâché prepared by a special formula requiring the incorporation with the paper-pulp of resin, glue, potash, drying-oil, and other ingredients. When kneaded, it acquires the consistency of plastic wax or clay, and may be colored as desired, and molded into anyshape. When dried it has many of the properties of wood—is hard, strong, and admits of being cut, carved, or polished.

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Examples (50)

  • The 45 second spot features a man dressed up as a pinata, a papier-mâché container filled with candy. —  The Inspiration Room™ | Daily
  • There's a cheap little gold-sparkled papier-mâché deer family holding court under our tree. —  NoFo
  • Anybody good with paper papier-mâché? —  Geekologie - Gadgets, Gizmos, and Awesome
  • The only other ornament was a papier-mâché figure of a cat, a cat reminiscent of the Lady Vere de Vere. —  Free Air
  • Goods of gutta-percha, papier-mâché, colours, brushes, brush-making, glaziers 'implements, —  Poems By Walt Whitman
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Etymologies (1)

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  1. French papier mâché, macerated paper: papier, from Latin papyrus, paper (see paper); mâché past participle of mâcher chew, macerate, from Latin masticare, chew: see masticate.
 

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