Parchment vs. Vellum — What's the Difference?

Parchment is a writing material made from specially prepared untanned skins of animals—primarily sheep, calves, and goats. It has been used as a writing medium for over two millennia.

Vellum is prepared animal skin or "membrane", typically used as a material for writing on. Parchment is another term for this material, and if vellum is distinguished from this, it is by its being made from calfskin, as opposed to that from other animals, or otherwise being of higher quality.

The skin of a sheep or goat prepared as a material on which to write or paint.

A fine parchment made from calfskin, lambskin, or kidskin and used for the pages and binding of books.

A written text or drawing on a sheet of this material.

A work written or printed on this parchment.

Paper made in imitation of this material.

A heavy off-white fine-quality paper resembling this parchment.

Material, made from the polished skin of a calf, sheep, goat or other animal, used like paper for writing.

A type of parchment paper made from the skin of a lamb, baby goat, or calf.

A document made on such material.

A writing paper of very high quality.

A diploma (traditionally written on parchment).

A fine kind of parchment, usually made from calfskin, and rendered clear and white, - used as for writing upon, and for binding books.

Stiff paper imitating that material.

A heavy creamy-colored paper resembling parchment

The creamy to tanned color of parchment.

Fine parchment prepared from the skin of a young animal e.g. a calf or lamb

The envelope of the coffee grains, inside the pulp.

The skin of a lamb, sheep, goat, young calf, or other animal, prepared for writing on. See Vellum.

The envelope of the coffee grains, inside the pulp.

A superior paper resembling sheepskin

Skin of a sheep or goat prepared for writing on