From Greek 'gypsos' (plaster), possibly of Semitic origin—the mineral behind plaster of Paris.
A soft sulfate mineral (calcium sulfate dihydrate) used to make plaster of Paris, drywall, and fertilizer.
From Latin 'gypsum,' from Greek 'gypsos' meaning 'plaster, chalk, cement,' possibly from a Semitic source. The Greeks used gypsum plaster extensively in their buildings. 'Plaster of Paris' refers to the large gypsum deposits at Montmartre in Paris. Key roots: gypsos (Greek: "plaster, chalk").