ream

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a quantity of paper (typically 500 sheets); to enlarge a hole by reaming

   She fed another ream of paper into the printer.

Simplified etymology

Ream, originally a fixed quantity of paper, ultimately comes from Arabic rizma, “bundle.” By the mid-16th century it could also mean a large amount of paper without specifying a number of sheets, and from the late 17th century reams of was used more generally for any large quantity.

The 'quantity of paper' sense is from Middle English reme, via Old French and Spanish from Arabic rizma ('bale, bundle'). The 'enlarge a hole' sense is of obscure origin, perhaps related to Old English ryman ('to widen').

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External links

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