Hypertext Webster Gateway: "parchment"
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary (easton)
Parchment
a skin prepared for writing on; so called from Pergamos (q.v.),
where this was first done (2 Tim. 4:13).
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Parchment \Parch"ment\ (-ment), n. [OE. parchemin, perchemin, F.
parchemin, LL. pergamenum, L. pergamena, pergamina, fr. L.
Pergamenus of or belonging to Pergamus an ancient city of
Mysia in Asia Minor, where parchment was first used.]
1. The skin of a lamb, sheep, goat, young calf, or other
animal, prepared for writing on. See {Vellum}.
But here's a parchment with the seal of C[ae]sar.
--Shak.
2. The envelope of the coffee grains, inside the pulp.
{Parchment paper}. See {Papyrine}.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
parchment
n 1: a superior paper resembling sheepskin
2: skin of a sheep or goat prepared for writing on [syn: {sheepskin},
{lambskin}]
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