paper vs piece

paper

noun
  • A paper packet containing a quantity of items. 

  • A written document that reports scientific or academic research and is usually subjected to peer review before publication in a scientific journal (as a journal article or the manuscript for one) or in the proceedings of a scientific or academic meeting (such as a conference, workshop, or symposium). 

  • A sheet material used for writing on or printing on (or as a non-waterproof container), usually made by draining cellulose fibres from a suspension in water. 

  • A scholastic essay. 

  • A written document, generally shorter than a book (white paper, term paper), in particular one written for the Government. 

  • Any financial assets other than specie. 

  • Wallpaper. 

  • A newspaper or anything used as such (such as a newsletter or listing magazine). 

  • An open hand (a handshape resembling a sheet of paper), that beats rock and loses to scissors. It loses to lizard and beats Spock in rock-paper-scissors-lizard-Spock. 

  • Wrapping paper. 

  • A set of examination questions to be answered at one session. 

  • Money. 

  • A university course. 

  • A medicinal preparation spread upon paper, intended for external application. 

  • A substance resembling paper secreted by certain invertebrates as protection for their nests and eggs. 

adj
  • Insubstantial (from the weakness of common paper) 

  • Made of paper. 

  • Planned (from plans being drawn up on paper) 

  • Having a title that is merely official, or given by courtesy or convention. 

verb
  • To apply paper to. 

  • To paste the endpapers and flyleaves at the beginning and end of a book before fitting it into its covers. 

  • To submit official papers to (a law court, etc.). 

  • To enfold in paper. 

  • To document; to memorialize. 

  • To fill (a theatre or other paid event) with complimentary seats. 

  • To give public notice (typically by displaying posters) that a person is wanted by the police or other authority. 

  • To sandpaper. 

piece

noun
  • A single item belonging to a class of similar items. 

  • An ounce of a recreational drug. 

  • A distance. 

  • A coin, especially one valued at less than the principal unit of currency. 

  • A cannabis pipe. 

  • An artillery gun. 

  • An amount of work to be done at one time; a unit of piece work. 

  • One of the figures used in playing chess, specifically a higher-value figure as distinguished from a pawn; by extension, a similar counter etc. in other games. 

  • A part of a larger whole, usually in such a form that it is able to be separated from other parts. 

  • A shoddy or worthless object (usually applied to consumer products like vehicles or appliances). 

  • A structured practice row, often used for performance evaluation. 

  • An artistic creation, such as a painting, sculpture, musical composition, literary work, etc. 

  • An article published in the press. 

  • A sexual encounter; from piece of ass or piece of tail. 

  • Used to describe a pitch that has been hit but not well, usually either being caught by the opposing team or going foul. Usually used in the past tense with get. 

  • A gun. 

  • A slice or other quantity of bread, eaten on its own; a sandwich or light snack. 

  • A pacifier; a dummy. 

  • A toupee or wig, especially when worn by a man. 

verb
  • To produce a work of graffiti more complex than a tag. 

  • To make, enlarge, or repair, by the addition of a piece or pieces; to patch; often with out. 

  • To assemble (something real or figurative). 

How often have the words paper and piece occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )