vellum.

A fine prepared animal skin, traditionally calfskin, used for writing, painting, or bookmaking.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• vellum manuscript
• illuminated vellum

On the page

The faded script remained legible on the vellum.

She turned the stiff vellum leaf with both hands.

Usage notes

Primary category: gothic. Forms: Usually uncountable; plural vellums for kinds or individual prepared skins. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings.