French word

parchemin

Pronunciation

IPA/paʁʃəmɛ̃/

Meaning

  • masculine nounparchment

Example

Ce vieux parchemin est fragile.

This old parchment is fragile.

Illustration for parchemin (parchment)

More examples

Montre-moi ce parchemin, je veux voir l'écriture.

Show me this parchment; I want to see the writing.

Core concept

A prepared hide turned into a durable surface for written records.

Similar words

papier: A thin material made from plant fibers for writing or wrapping.
document: A paper or electronic record created to preserve information.
feuille: A single thin sheet of paper used in a notebook or printout.
manuscrit: A handwritten text or book, often unpublished or historically old.

Definition in French

Feuille préparée à partir de peau d'animal (souvent de mouton ou de chèvre), travaillée pour recevoir l'écriture et utilisée pour manuscrits et documents anciens.

Word origin

The French noun descends from Old French parchemin and ultimately from Latin pergamena, meaning material linked with Pergamon.

Usage tips

  • Unlike papier, parchemin usually has a historical, archival, or literary register rather than an everyday one.

Other meanings

  • scrollnoun
  • manuscriptnoun

Word lists with this word