Parchment is a word originating from the Greek term pergamene, and serves to describe an object made with the skin of some animals, on which it is possible to write. In addition, the word parchment can also classify the written content that is part of the document.
Normally, parchment is made from calf, goat and lamb skin. It was quite popular during the Middle Ages, and served as papyrus substitute. Later, parchment also began to be used to bind books and documents.
Parchment had some advantages over papyrus, which was very fragile and where you could only write on one side. Parchment, in addition to being much more resistant, allows writing on both sides and its reuse, making it possible to erase a text by scraping the skin with an appropriate instrument.
The creation of parchment began to gain preponderance from the 2nd century BC onwards, and it was quite a lot popular until the 13th century, when it began to be replaced by paper, whose production was much more cockroach. A higher quality scroll was also known as vellum paper.
The name of parchment came from the place where it was created, the city of Pergamum, which was formerly part of Mysia, Greece. Today this city is part of Turkey and is known as Bergama.
Despite not being used as much these days, parchment still has some use. Currently, some highly important national documents are made on parchment. The animal skin used in the creation of the parchment is not tanned, and is treated with caustic soda. This way, the skin is not waterproof, allowing the ink to be absorbed.
In a figurative sense, the word parchment also describes a document that certifies a title of nobility or one university degree.
Parchment is a very popular object in tattoos, and many people write the names of special people inside the parchment tattoo.
See also: meaning of papyrus.