vellum

[ vel-uhm ]
See synonyms for vellum on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. calfskin, lambskin, kidskin, etc., treated for use as a writing surface.

  2. a manuscript or the like on vellum.

  1. a texture of paper or cloth resembling vellum.

adjective
  1. made of or resembling vellum.

  2. bound in vellum.

Origin of vellum

1
1400–50; late Middle English velum, velim<Middle French ve(e)lin of a calf. See veal, -in1

Other words from vellum

  • half-vellum, noun

Words Nearby vellum

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use vellum in a sentence

  • A similar book, but apparently much less elaborate, a vellum Aristotle, recently fetched 800 at the Ashburnham sale.

    Prices of Books | Henry B. Wheatley

British Dictionary definitions for vellum

vellum

/ (ˈvɛləm) /


noun
  1. a fine parchment prepared from the skin of a calf, kid, or lamb

  2. a work printed or written on vellum

  1. a creamy coloured heavy paper resembling vellum

adjective
  1. made of or resembling vellum

  2. (of a book) bound in vellum

Origin of vellum

1
C15: from Old French velin, from velin of a calf, from veel veal

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012