Abrasive paper or cloth with sand or other rough particles glued to one surface, used for smoothing or polishing surfaces. Can also function as a verb meaning to smooth with such material.
Compound word combining 'sand' (from Old English 'sand') and 'paper' (from Latin 'papyrus' via Old French). First appeared in the 19th century as manufacturing techniques allowed sand to be effectively bonded to paper backing.
Originally, craftspeople used actual sand glued to paper, but modern 'sandpaper' rarely contains sand - instead using minerals like aluminum oxide or silicon carbide! The texture grades from coarse to ultra-fine, with some papers so smooth they feel almost silky yet can polish metal to mirror finish.
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