What is "rice paper"

Rice \Rice\, n. [F. riz (cf. Pr. ris, It. riso), L. oryza, Gr. ???, ???, probably from the Persian; cf. OPers. br[=i]zi, akin to Skr. vr[=i]hi; or perh. akin to E. rye. Cf. Rye.] (Bot.) A well-known cereal grass ( Oryza sativa) and its seed. This plant is extensively cultivated in warm climates, and the grain forms a large portion of the food of the inhabitants. In America it grows chiefly on low, moist land, which can be overflowed.

Ant rice. (Bot.) See under Ant.

French rice. (Bot.) See Amelcorn.

Indian rice., a tall reedlike water grass ( Zizania aquatica), bearing panicles of a long, slender grain, much used for food by North American Indians. It is common in shallow water in the Northern States. Called also water oat, Canadian wild rice, etc.

Mountain rice, any species of an American genus ( Oryzopsis) of grasses, somewhat resembling rice.

Rice bunting. (Zo["o]l.) Same as Ricebird.

Rice hen (Zo["o]l.), the Florida gallinule.

Rice mouse (Zo["o]l.), a large dark-colored field mouse ( Calomys palistris) of the Southern United States.

Rice paper, a kind of thin, delicate paper, brought from China, -- used for painting upon, and for the manufacture of fancy articles. It is made by cutting the pith of a large herb ( Fatsia papyrifera, related to the ginseng) into one roll or sheet, which is flattened out under pressure. Called also pith paper.

Rice troupial (Zo["o]l.), the bobolink.

Rice water, a drink for invalids made by boiling a small quantity of rice in water.

Rice-water discharge (Med.), a liquid, resembling rice water in appearance, which is vomited, and discharged from the bowels, in cholera.

Rice weevil (Zo["o]l.), a small beetle ( Calandra oryz[ae], or Sitophilus oryz[ae]) which destroys rice, wheat, and Indian corn by eating out the interior; -- called also black weevil.

n. 1 A thin, fragile paper made from parts of the rice plant, used in artificial flowers and watercolour art. 2 (context loosely English) Any similar paper made from a plant other than rice, such as bamboo or mulberry.

n. a thin delicate material resembling paper; made from the rice-paper tree

Rice paper is an umbrella term that has been used to collectively refer to several paper-like materials from East-Asia made from various plants. In different context rice paper may refer to:

• Thin peeled dried pith of Tetrapanax papyrifer: A sheet-like "paper" material was used extensively in late 19th century Guangdong China as a common support medium for gouache paintings sold to Western clients of the era. The term was first defined in the Chinese-English Dictionary of Robert Morrison who referred to the use of the Chinese medicinal plant as material for painting, as well as for making artificial flowers and shoe soles.
• Xuan paper made from paper mulberry: The traditional paper which originated in ancient China and it has been used for centuries in China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam for writing, artwork, and architecture.
• Various pulp-based papers: May be made from the rice straw or other plants, such as hemp and bamboo.
• Dried starch sheets of various thickness or texture: These edible paper sheets have some properties of pulp paper and can be made from rice starch. They are known as banh trang, used in Vietnamese cuisine.