pa|pier-mâ|ché

pa|pier-mâ|ché «PAY puhr muh SHAY», noun, adjective.

–n.

a paper pulp mixed with some stiffener such as glue and molded while moist. It becomes hard and strong when dry and is used chiefly for decorative objects and for stage properties. »

Enormous pieces of group statuary in painted papier-mâché [are] put up by various guilds and other organizations in many parts of the city (New York Times).

–adj.

made of papier-mâché: »

Parents and 5-to-12-year-olds will learn how to make papier-mâché puppets and costumes (New York Times). The well-known papier-mâché bedstead in the Victoria and Albert Museum is a metal bedstead with papier-mâché head and foot panels (London Times).

╂[< French papier paper, and mâché compressed, mashed < mâcher (literally) to chew < Late Latin masticāre masticate]