parchment

C1 Topic:Media & Publishing

US /ˈpɑɹtʃmənt/ UK /ˈpɑːtʃmənt/ See IPA manual

Freq #22403

Meanings

1

noun
the specially prepared skin of a sheep, goat, or calf, formerly used as a durable writing surface

The White Rabbit unrolled the parchment and began to read the charge.
2

noun
strong, smooth paper made to resemble prepared animal skin

The diploma was printed on thick parchment and sealed with wax.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the specially prepared skin... vellum sheepskin

2 noun · strong, smooth paper made... parchment paper

Word family

Forms parchments

Derived forms parchmentalparchmentlikeparchmenty

Related forms papyrusmanuscript paper

Etymology

From Middle English parchemyn or parchement, through Old French parchemin and Latin pergamena, from Greek Pergamenos, 'of Pergamon.' The name reflects the ancient association of this writing material with Pergamon in Asia Minor, although prepared animal skins were used elsewhere long before the city became famous for them.

Topics

Media & Publishing

External links

# parchment

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈpɑɹtʃmənt/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈpɑːtʃmənt/
**Frequency rank:** 22403

## Meanings
1. the specially prepared skin of a sheep, goat, or calf, formerly used as a durable writing surface
2. strong, smooth paper made to resemble prepared animal skin

## Examples
- The White Rabbit unrolled the parchment and began to read the charge.
- The diploma was printed on thick parchment and sealed with wax.

## Synonyms
- vellum
- sheepskin
- parchment paper

## Derived Forms
- parchmental
- parchmentlike
- parchmenty

## Related Forms
- papyrus
- manuscript
- paper

## Etymology
From Middle English parchemyn or parchement, through Old French parchemin and Latin pergamena, from Greek Pergamenos, 'of Pergamon.' The name reflects the ancient association of this writing material with Pergamon in Asia Minor, although prepared animal skins were used elsewhere long before the city became famous for them.

## Topics
- Media & Publishing

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