parchment

Meaning

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

Synonyms

vellum

sheepskin

lambskin

leather

scroll

📜

parchment paper

graduation certificate

pergameneous

diploma

sheep’s skin

goatskin

honor

Translations

parchemin

Pergament

pergamena

pergamino

perkament

pergaminho

περγαμηνή

pergamí

cartapecora

membrana

vélin

palimpseste

Papierrolle

الرق الممسوح

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈpɑːtʃmənt/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: parchemyn

Cognate with Danish: pergament

Cognate with Dutch: perkament

Cognate with French: parchemin

Cognate with German: Pergament

Cognate with Greek: περγαμηνή

Cognate with Italian: pergamena

Cognate with Norwegian: pergament

Cognate with Portuguese: pergaminho

Cognate with Galician: pergameo

Cognate with Romanian: pergament

Cognate with Russian: пергамент

Cognate with Spanish: pergamino

Cognate with Swedish: pergament

In summary

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.