* Ancient Egypt: The first paper-like material was made in ancient Egypt from the papyrus plant. The word "papyrus" comes from the Greek word πάπυρος (papyros), which likely originated from the Egyptian word 𓂭𓏭𓏭𓏭 (per-w-r-w), meaning "plant of the king."
* Latin: The Romans adopted the word "papyrus" into their language, turning it into "papyrus."
* Medieval Europe: When the Arabs introduced papermaking to Europe in the 8th century, they called it "carta" (from the Arabic word "qirtas"). This word, meaning "paper," spread throughout Europe and became the standard term.
* English: The word "paper" ultimately derives from the Latin word "papyrus," but it was influenced by the French word "papier," which itself came from the Arabic "qirtas."
So, the journey of the word "paper" is a testament to the global flow of ideas and technology, starting in ancient Egypt, passing through the Arab world, and finally reaching its current form in English.