parchment

noun

parch·​ment ˈpärch-mənt 

1

: the skin of a sheep or goat prepared for writing on

2

: strong, tough, and often somewhat translucent paper made to resemble parchment

3

: a parchment manuscript

also : an academic diploma

Examples of parchment in a Sentence

Ancient people wrote on parchment.

a parchment dating back to ancient times

Line the pan with a sheet of parchment.

Recent Examples on the Web

Remove the baking sheet from the oven and use the parchment paper to transfer the brie to a serving dish or platter. —Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 1 Nov. 2024

Line cookie sheets with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper. —Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Oct. 2024

Arrange salmon fillets on a pan lined with parchment paper. —Ann Taylor Pittman, Southern Living, 27 Oct. 2024

Hers is chicken marinated in a bright adobo, topped with slices of butternut squash, wrapped and tied in a bundle of parchment paper, then steamed. —Betty Hallock, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

parchment

noun

parch·​ment ˈpärch-mənt 

1

: the skin of a sheep or goat prepared as a writing material

2

: a paper like parchment

3

: something written on parchment