/ ˈpɑːtʃmənt; NAmE ˈpɑːrtʃ-/ noun
1.
[ U ] material made from the skin of a sheep or goat , used in the past for writing on :
parchment scrolls
2.
[ U ] a thick yellowish type of paper
3.
[ C ] a document written on a piece of parchment
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French parchemin , from a blend of late Latin pergamina writing material from Pergamum (in ancient Mysia) and Parthica pellis Parthian skin (a kind of scarlet leather).