Definition

A type of paper that is covered with a sticky substance to trap flies and other insects.

Example

We hung the flypaper in the kitchen to catch any pesky flies.

Conversation

Have you ever used flypaper in your kitchen?

Yeah, I tried it once, but it was kind of messy.

I can imagine! Did it actually catch any flies?

Surprisingly, it worked pretty well; I just hated the stickiness.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Flypaper is a compound word formed from "fly" (from Old English *flēoge*, meaning a small flying insect) and "paper" (from Latin *papyrus*, meaning a writing material made from the pith of the papyrus plant). The word describes a type of paper designed to catch flies, combining the idea of the insect with the material used to trap it.

Memory Tip

Think of a small flying insect ('fly') getting stuck to a sticky material ('paper') — that's what flypaper is designed to do.

Visually Confused Words