n.1 a an animal skin, esp. that of a sheep or goat, prepared as a writing or painting surface. b a manuscript written on this.
2 (in full vegetable parchment) high-grade paper made to resemble parchment.
Etymology: ME f. OF parchemin, ult. a blend of LL pergamina writing material from Pergamum (in Asia Minor) with Parthica pellis Parthian skin (leather)