parchment

American  

[pahrch-muhnt] / ˈpɑrtʃ mənt /

noun

1. the skin of sheep, goats, etc., prepared for use as a material on which to write.

2. a manuscript or document on such material.

3. a stiff, off-white paper resembling this material.

4. a diploma.

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parchment British  

/ ˈpɑːtʃmənt /

noun

1. the skin of certain animals, such as sheep, treated to form a durable material, as for bookbinding, or (esp formerly) manuscripts

2. a manuscript, bookbinding, etc, made of or resembling this material

3. a type of stiff yellowish paper resembling parchment

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Other Word Forms

• parchmentlike adjective
• parchmenty adjective

Etymology

Origin of parchment

1275–1325; late Middle English < Middle French, Old French ( parche < Latin Parthica ( pellis ) Parthian (leather) + -ment (compare Medieval Latin percamentum, Dutch perkament )); replacing Middle English parchemin < Old French ( -min < Medieval Latin pergamīnum, variant of pergamēnum, for Late Latin Pergamēna charta paper of Pergamum )

Example Sentences

"Usually, lime is used in the production of vellum parchment, but this is not found locally," he said.

From BBC

It was everywhere online: a glistening democracy of vegetables and protein, dutifully spaced on parchment, slid into a hot oven, retrieved as a complete life solution.

From Salon

There was no clothing on the figure; I could see each ivory rib, and the outline of the teeth through the parchment cheeks.

From Literature

Carefully, she unfolded the parchment paper to reveal my hat.

From Literature

She looked confused and stared down at her parchment.

From Literature