* Historically: Before the invention of spiral notebooks and binders, paper was sold in loose sheets, often in packs or bundles.
* The "Leaf" Analogy: The term "leaf" is used because individual sheets of paper were like the leaves of a book. You could tear off a single sheet, use it, and then discard it, just like you would turn a page in a book.
* Loose vs. Bound: The term "loose" emphasizes that the sheets are not bound together in any permanent way. This contrasts with "bound" paper, like in a book or a notebook.
So, the name "loose leaf paper" refers to the fact that the sheets are individual and unbound, making them easy to separate and use.