I alluded to this in my last discussion, but when did "Matte finish" start to mean "Glossy finish"?

When I order a matte finish, I don't expect (nor order) what would be considered "semi-glossy" if I bought the photo paper myself. I don't remember glossy being restricted to "mirror".

But a search of various photography websites seems to indicate that's exactly what both mean now.

Holding a Walmart "matte" photo, if I wasn't told it was matte, I'd have called it glossy.

To me, glossy=shiny, matte=not shiny (not "less shiny than our glossy option"). I can understand a slight "sheen" from the coating designed to protect the paper (otherwise you're just buying typing paper or cardstock), but generally, in those instances, they add so much texture to the surface that it's impossible to consider it a glossy photo.

The Official Pix products are one example. They catch light because of the coating, but, because of the texture, they don't really reflect it.

These Walmart "matte" photos don't reflect the surroundings, but they do reflect the light. How can a product that reflects light be called "matte"?

Anyway, am I alone in this?