Parchment is a kind of thick yellowish paper. an old lamp with a parchment shade Cover with a sheet of non-stick baking parchment. Processed skins of certain animals (chiefly sheep, goats, and calves) that have been prepared for the purpose of writing on them. Parchment was probably invented in Greece in the 2nd century BC. Skins had been used for writing material even earlier ( 2400 BC), but the new, more thorough method of cleaning, stretching, and scraping made possible the use of both sides of a manuscript leaf, leading to the replacement of the rolled manuscript by the bound book (codex). Especially fine parchment is known as vellum. In modern usage, the terms "parchment" and "vellum" are sometimes used for a type of high-quality paper
A paper-like material used for writing from around 500 B C , made from the skins of sheep or goats, steeped in lime, stretched pared down to reduce thickness
Writing material made from the skins of sheep or calf, less frequently pig, goat,, and other animals; it has also been used for painting, and occasionally for printing and bookbinding Pliny says that it ewas invented in the 2nd century BC in Pergamum; hence the name parchment from the Latin pergamena (of Pergamum) Skin had been used as a writng material before this, but the refined methods of cleaning and stretching involved in making parchment enabled booth sides of a leaf to be used, leading eventually to the supplanting of the manuscript roll by the bound book Vellum is a fine kind of parchment made from delicate skins of young (sometimes stillborn) animals Paper began to replace parchment from about the 14th century, but parchment is still used for certain kinds of documents, and the name is often applied to high-quality writng paper
Generic term used to denote any writing SUPPORT material made from animal skin, such as sheep, goat, calf, etc VELLUM is a term properly applied only to calf skin, which produces a very fine, white, and thin writing surface lacking the imperfections commonly found in the skins of other or older animals However, owing to its qualitative associations the term vellum is frequently misapplied to writing support material from any animal that has been prepared to a similarly high level of quality The term parchment is to be preferred in all cases
To simulate the look of ancient parchment, which was made from animal skin, text and cover versions are made with a variegated surface, translucent colors and rigid feel Parchment is often used for diplomas, certificates and contracts
[ 'pärch-m&nt ] (noun.) 14th century. Middle English parchemin, from Middle French, modification of Latin pergamena, from Greek pergamEnE, from feminine of PergamEnos of Pergamum, from Pergamon Pergamum.