English Explanatory Dictionary

parchment

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Material, made from the polished skin of a calf, sheep, goat or other animal, used like paper for writing.
  2. A document made on such material.
  3. A diploma (traditionally written on parchment).
  4. Stiff paper imitating that material.
  5. The creamy to tanned color of parchment.
  6. The envelope of the coffee grains, inside the pulp.
name
  1. A surname.

Pronunciation

/ˈpɑːtʃmənt/ /ˈpʰɑɹt͡ʃmənt/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vininn126-parchment.wav LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-parchment.wav

Word forms

parchment parchments

Etymology

From Middle English parchemyn, parchement, from Old French parchemin, via Latin pergamīna, from Ancient Greek Περγαμηνός (Pergamēnós, “of Pergamon”), which is named for the ancient city of Pergamon (modern Bergama) in Asia Minor, where it was invented as an expensive alternative for papyrus. Cognate with Danish pergament, Dutch perkament, French parchemin, German Pergament, Greek περγαμηνή (pergaminí), Italian pergamena, Norwegian pergament, Portuguese pergaminho, Galician pergameo, Romanian pergament, Russian пергамент (pergament), Spanish pergamino, and Swedish pergament.

Synonyms

bookfell membrane vellum vegetal parchment parchment paper wax paper

Related words

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Derived words

baking parchment parchmental parchmented parchmenter parchmentization parchmentize parchmentless parchmentlike parchment paper parchment worm parchmenty unparchmented unparchmentized vegetable parchment virgin parchment
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