building paper

American  

noun

1. heavy paper used especially in the construction of frame buildings to block drafts, for insulation, etc.

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building paper British  

noun

1. any of various types of heavy-duty paper that usually consist of bitumen reinforced with fibre sandwiched between two sheets of kraft paper: used in damp-proofing or as insulation between the soil and a road surface

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Etymology

Origin of building paper

An Americanism dating back to 1870–75

Example Sentences

About six layers of building paper is thick enough for a fox head size.

From Home Taxidermy for Pleasure and Profit A Guide for Those Who Wish to Prepare and Mount Animals, Birds, Fish, Reptiles, etc., for Home, Den, or Office Decoration by Farnham, Albert B.

For rabbits I use tin from the roofs of burned buildings or building paper.

From The Apple by Various

Build a frame, then fit them in, standing them on end, and line with building paper, and perhaps boards.

From Buffalo Roost by Cheley, F. H.

On the top of this a hard pine 1¼ inch floor was laid over a course of building paper.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 647, May 26, 1888 by Various

In place of lath and plastered walls, thick building paper formed the interior covering, leaving a space between the iron outside and the paper within.

From An I.D.B. in South Africa by Vescelius-Sheldon, Louise