parchment
Parchment (noun) means a writing material made from treated animal skin, used before paper became common. Example: “The medieval manuscript was written on parchment.”
How to use parchment
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA durable writing material made from animal skin, or the pale cream colour associated with it.
Word forms
parchments plural, Parchments plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The medieval manuscript was written on _____.
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.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “parchment” mean?
The word “parchment” means a writing material made from treated animal skin, used before paper became common. In plain terms, a durable writing material made from animal skin, or the pale cream colour associated with it.
How do you pronounce “parchment”?
“Parchment” is pronounced PAHCH-muhnt (/ˈpʰɑɹt͡ʃmənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “parchment” in a sentence?
Here is “parchment” used in a sentence: “The medieval manuscript was written on parchment.”
What part of speech is “parchment”?
“Parchment” is a noun.
Where does the word “parchment” come from?
The word “parchment” comes from Old French. 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.
Is “parchment” a common word?
“Parchment” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “parchment” have?
“Parchment” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a writing material made from treated animal skin, used before paper became common.