Definition

1. Noun:
   • A type of thick, strong, white or off-white paper, originally used for making the tubes containing gunpowder and shot for firearms. This is the historical meaning.
   • A type of thick, high-quality, slightly textured paper, now primarily used for drawing, sketching, and watercolor painting. This is the contemporary, more common meaning. It is designed to hold pencil, ink, and light washes without buckling excessively.

Usage and Examples

• Noun:
  • The artist preferred cartridge paper for her preliminary sketches because it was durable and had a pleasant tooth.
  • For this exercise, please use a sheet of A3 cartridge paper and a charcoal pencil.
  • (Historical) The factory produced cartridge paper for the military's ammunition supplies.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in art supply contexts to distinguish a general-purpose, sturdy drawing paper from more specialized papers like hot-pressed watercolor paper or tracing paper.
• It can be described by its weight (e.g., 120gsm cartridge paper) to indicate its thickness and durability.

Variants and Related Words

• Drawing Paper (n): A general term for paper suitable for drawing, which often includes cartridge paper as a common type.
• Sketch Paper (n): Similar to drawing paper, often implying a lighter weight or less formal quality than some cartridge papers.

Synonyms

• Drawing Paper
• Sketch Paper
• Bond Paper (though bond is often smoother and more suited to writing/printing)

Notes on Meaning

The word has two distinct meanings based on context: 1. Historical/Industrial: Refers to the paper's original function in ammunition manufacturing. 2. Artistic/Contemporary: Refers to its modern use as a standard, versatile paper for visual arts. This is the predominant meaning today.

Noun

1. paper for making cartridge cases
2. thick white paper for pencil and ink drawings