parchment Hear it!

parchment definition

parch·ment (pärc̸hmənt)

noun

  1. the skin of an animal, usually a sheep or goat, prepared as a surface on which to write or paint
  2. paper specially treated to resemble parchment, and used for lampshades, stationery, etc.
  3. a document, manuscript, or diploma on parchment

Etymology: ME parchemin < OFr < LL pergamina < L (charta) Pergamena, (paper) of Pergamum, where used as a substitute for papyrus: altered in OFr by assoc. with parche, parchment < LL parthica (pellis), lit., Parthian (leather)

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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