Why is the word paper connected to the papyrus plant?

The word paper is etymologically derived from the papyrus plant, a reedy aquatic plant that grows along the Nile River in Egypt.12

In ancient times, the papyrus plant served as the primary writing material for the Mediterranean world. To create a writing surface, the plant's stem was cut into thin strips, which were arranged in layers, pressed, and dried; the plant's natural, gluelike sap acted as an adhesive to bind the layers together.12

As modern papermaking—which involves the formation of a matted sheet from defibred cellulose fibers—became common in Europe by the 14th century, the term for this new material was adopted from the name of the older, half-forgotten writing medium. Thus, the name of the ancient writing surface was transferred to the modern material that eventually replaced it.34