Biblos

/ˈbɪb.lɒs/ noun

Definition

An ancient papyrus plant used for making paper; also called biblos or papyrus.

Etymology

From Greek biblos, originally referring to the papyrus plant (Cyperus papyrus) that grew along the Nile River, and later the paper made from it. The word eventually evolved into our modern term 'Bible' through Latin biblia.

Kelly Says

The word 'Bible' literally comes from the name of an ancient Egyptian plant—so every time someone mentions 'the Bible,' they're technically saying 'the books made from papyrus plant material.'

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.