Parchment
Parchment
Parchment (/ˈpɑːrtʃmənt/; from Latin: parchmentum) is a writing material made from specially prepared untanned skins of animals—primarily sheep, calves, and goats. It has been used as a writing medium for over two millennia.
Etymology
The term parchment originates from the city of Pergamon which was a thriving center of parchment production during the Hellenistic period. The word parchment is a corruption of the name Pergamon.
History
Parchment was often used in the Middle Ages for the writing of documents, books, and the like. It was replaced by paper in the 15th century, but it is still used today for certain applications, such as diplomas, religious texts, and in bookbinding.
Production
The production of parchment involves the removal of hair from the skin of an animal and the use of a special solution to remove the flesh. The skin is then stretched and dried to create a smooth, durable writing surface.
Related Terms
- Vellum: A finer quality parchment made from the skins of young animals.
- Manuscript: A book, document, or piece of music written by hand rather than typed or printed. Parchment was often used for manuscripts.
- Palimpsest: A manuscript page from a scroll or book from which the text has been scraped off and which can be used again. This was often done with parchment.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Parchment
- Wikipedia's article - Parchment
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