noun
parchment
PAHCH-muhnt
noun
1
A writing material made from treated animal skin, used before paper became common.
"The medieval manuscript was written on parchment."
2
A document, especially an official or ceremonial one, written on such material.
"The king's decree was sealed on a parchment scroll."
3
A pale, tan-cream colour resembling aged parchment paper.
"The walls were painted a soft parchment shade."
How to Use Parchment
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA durable writing material made from animal skin, or the pale cream colour associated with it.
Common pairings
parchment paper
parchment scroll
parchment colour
Word Forms
parchments plural, Parchments plural
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Etymology
From Old French parchemin, ultimately from Greek Pergamenos, "of Pergamon" — the ancient city (in modern-day Turkey) credited with developing this animal-skin writing material as a substitute for papyrus.