vellum

[ vel-uhm ]

noun

1. calfskin, lambskin, kidskin, etc., treated for use as a writing surface.
2. a manuscript or the like on vellum.
3. a texture of paper or cloth resembling vellum.

adjective

1. made of or resembling vellum.
2. bound in vellum.

vellum

/ ˈvɛləm /

noun

1. a fine parchment prepared from the skin of a calf, kid, or lamb
2. a work printed or written on vellum
3. a creamy coloured heavy paper resembling vellum

adjective

1. made of or resembling vellum
2. (of a book) bound in vellum

Other Words From

• half-vellum noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of vellum¹

1400–50; late Middle English velum, velim < Middle French ve ( e ) lin of a calf. See veal, -in ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of vellum¹

C15: from Old French velin, from velin of a calf, from veel veal

Example Sentences

The scroll, which consists of 56 pages stitched together by hand and contains about 11,600 words, is the first to be printed on paper, rather than vellum, reflecting the king’s views on animal welfare.

From Seattle Times

The cupboards in the lab-like room held vellum and dyes and more exotic sounding material such as Goldbeater's skin.

From BBC

Instead the artist more often painted on the plaster of frescoes or on paper or vellum—parchment made from calfskin.

From Scientific American

“Leather will wet rot. Collagen fibers in vellum will tighten and shrink.”

From New York Times

The coloured writing and decoration, written on prepared animal skin known as vellum paper, was produced using a technique called tempera.

From BBC

Related Words

• bark
• coating
• crust
• fur
• husk
• jacket
• membrane
• rind
• sheath
• surface