onionskin

American  

[uhn-yuhn-skin] / ˈʌn yənˌskɪn /

noun

1. a thin, lightweight, translucent, glazed paper, used especially for making carbon copies.

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onionskin British  

/ ˈʌnjənˌskɪn /

noun

1. a glazed translucent paper

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Etymology

Origin of onionskin

An Americanism dating back to 1875–80; onion + skin

Example Sentences

I scoured the onionskin pages of Hemmings Motor News in search of what the English call a “well-sorted” car: mechanically sound but far from concours, one that I wouldn’t be afraid to drive.

From Washington Post • Nov. 21, 2021

Colors ranged from the palest onionskin to an almost brilliant maraschino cherry, yet the color was rarely a clue to the body and character of the wine.

From New York Times • Dec. 19, 2019

Her mother dutifully obliged, writing her instructions in Hindi on onionskin paper that Jaffrey still has.

From The Guardian • May 6, 2019

First, he read the original investigation reports, some of which he said were written on onionskin paper.

From Washington Times • Jan. 9, 2017

These were typed on die thinnest onionskin paper I had ever seen.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides