parchment

Meanings

1. 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. 2
   noun

   strong, smooth paper made to resemble prepared animal skin

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

Simplified etymology

Parchment came into Middle English from Old French parchemin, a blend of late Latin pergamina ‘writing material from Pergamum’ and Parthica pellis ‘Parthian skin’, a kind of scarlet leather. Tradition attributed the invention of using treated animal skin as a writing material to King Eumenes II of Pergamum, at a time when papyrus was usual.

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.

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