"Drywall" (Dry wall) (verses a "wet wall" such as plaster) is term that came about once board (dry) products were developed that would replace plastered (wet) walls.

"Sackett Board" was invented in 1894 by Augustine Sackett. It was made by layering plaster within four plies of wool felt paper. Sheets were 36" x 36" x 1/4" thick with open (untaped) edges."

"Gypsum Board" evolved between 1910 and 1930 beginning with wrapped board edges, and elimination of the two inner layers of felt paper in favor of paper-based facings.

"Rock Lath" was an early substrate for plaster. An alternative to traditional wood or metal lath it was a panel made up of compressed gypsum plaster board that was sometimes grooved or punched with holes to allow wet plaster to key into its surface. As it evolved, it was faced with paper impregnated with gypsum crystals that bonded with the applied facing layer of plaster. Before Drywall if you wanted a seamless wall it was plastered. Plaster was applied in layers over narrow boards called lath that were nailed on to the studs. The plaster was pressed into gaps between the laths to make it adhere, and was built up in progressive layers. This building technique called for a good degree of craftsmanship and experience, but allowed the builder to incorporate interesting textures or decorations as the plaster was worked.

Plaster went on wet and took some time to dry. Once boards were manufactured that could be fastened to the wall the wall was no longer "wet." It was a "dry wall."

Various materials are used in different types of drywall, the most common being made with gypsum. In the mid-twentieth century, drywall, came into widespread use, and now almost all buildings have drywalled walls. Drywall has a number of advantages over plaster, ease of installation being the most obvious.