Definition of: parchment

(pärch′mənt) noun
1. The skin of sheep, goats, and other animals prepared and polished with pumice stone for writing.
2. An imitation parchment made by treating paper with sulfuric acid and water: also called vegetable parchment.
3. A formal writing on parchment.
4. A college graduation diploma.
5. A light-tan or cream color, the color of parchment. [<OF parchemin <LL Pergamena (charta) (paper) of Pergamum <Gk. Pergamon the city of Pergamum; because it was used there instead of papyrus]