onionskin

[ uhn-yuhn-skin ]

noun

1. a thin, lightweight, translucent, glazed paper, used especially for making carbon copies.

onionskin

/ ˈʌnjənˌskɪn /

noun

1. a glazed translucent paper

Word History and Origins

Origin of onionskin¹

An Americanism dating back to 1875–80; onion + skin

Example Sentences

This married 47-year-old mother took a liking to him, to put it mildly, and started leaving notes written on blue onionskin paper in his locker.

From New York Times

I scoured the onionskin pages of Hemmings Motor News in search of what the English call a “well-sorted” car: mechanically sound but far from concours, one that I wouldn’t be afraid to drive.

From Washington Post

A real pleasure of these books was the struggle to turn their onionskin pages, with even the 900-page “Bleak House” coming in at less than an inch thick.

From New York Times

By the end of the year, I felt tired and overwhelmed, ready to peel away onionskin layers of regret.

From New York Times

In other words, it is business as usual in Wisconsin, a partisan hothouse where elections can turn on onionskin margins and every ballot is potential booty in a political death struggle.

From New York Times