1. A coarse stout kind of paper made of unbleached materials; chiefly used for wrapping.
1542. in Glasscock, Rec. St. Michael’s Bp. Stortford (1882), 43. Item for browne paper for the seid orgons.
1611. Cotgr., Papier marchand, browne paper (wherein Tradesmen fould vp their Wares).
1772. Gentl. Mag., XLII. 192. Course brown paper, such as pedlars use.
a. 1848. Marryat, R. Reefer, v. [He] would … clap the vinegar and brown paper on my bruises.
2. Comb. and attrib., as brown-paper parcel, etc. Brown-paper warrant (see quot.).
1610. Histrio-m., IV. 194. The gentlemen see into our trade, We cannot gull them with brown-paper stuff.
1691. Lond. Gaz., No. 2701/4. Any Brown-Paper-Maker may be furnished with what Quantity of Course Rags … they please.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., 719. Brown-paper warrants, those given by a captain, and which he can cancel.
1885. Law Times’ Rep., LII. 736/2. [He] sent him a brown-paper parcel.
