vellum
Americannoun
-
calfskin, lambskin, kidskin, etc., treated for use as a writing surface.
-
a manuscript or the like on vellum.
-
a texture of paper or cloth resembling vellum.
adjective
-
made of or resembling vellum.
-
bound in vellum.
noun
-
a fine parchment prepared from the skin of a calf, kid, or lamb
-
a work printed or written on vellum
-
a creamy coloured heavy paper resembling vellum
adjective
-
made of or resembling vellum
-
(of a book) bound in vellum
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of vellum
1400–50; late Middle English velum, velim < Middle French ve ( e ) lin of a calf. See veal, -in 1
Explanation
Vellum is a thick, fancy type of paper that was traditionally made from animal skin. Today, vellum is much more likely to be made of cotton instead. If you buy a sheet of vellum from an art supply store, you can rest assured that it's completely vegetarian. Partly because animal skin vellum is so expensive to produce, it's rare these days. Some sacred texts are still printed on the very fine, thin hides of cows, including Torah scrolls. The British Acts of Parliament also continue to be printed on animal vellum. The word vellum shares a root with veal, or "calf meat."
Vocabulary lists containing vellum
Stroke of Genius: Words About Painting
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Art History
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Medieval Europe - Middle School
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“I think pets are members of our family. They’ve always been, and I think the pandemic really reinforced that,” says Jeff Pelletier, managing principal of Seattle design firm Board & Vellum.
From Seattle Times • Mar. 24, 2023
Board & Vellum designed a hideaway office disguised as a bookshelf in a West Seattle home.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 30, 2022
Each piece is “a drawing on top of a drawing on top of a drawing,” as if Servellon had created separate art works on translucent Vellum paper and layered them one on top of another.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 31, 2016
Chad Post made a similar L.T.I.-sponsored trip to Seoul, with Will Evans, the publisher of Deep Vellum, and Ross Ufberg, of New Vessel Press, last winter.
From The New Yorker • Jan. 28, 2016
The painting, Vellum, Frame and Glass as it now stands cost 32-6 Sterling Rec'd by his most dutifull Humble Servt.
From The Loyalists of Massachusetts And the Other Side of the American Revolution by Stark, James H.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
