Main Entry:

parch·ment

Pronunciation:

\ˈpärch-mənt\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English parchemin, from Anglo-French, modification of Latin pergamena, from Greek pergamēnē, from feminine of Pergamēnos of Pergamum, from Pergamon Pergamum

Date:

14th century

1: the skin of a sheep or goat prepared for writing on2: strong, tough, and often somewhat translucent paper made to resemble parchment3: a parchment manuscript ; also : an academic diploma