vellum

From Old French velin (French vélin), from Latin vitulinus (“of a calf”), as if derived from Old French veel (“veal”).

• IPA^(key): /ˈvɛləm/

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• Rhymes: -ɛləm

vellum (countable and uncountable, plural vellums)

1. A type of parchment paper made from the skin of a lamb, baby goat, or calf.
   • 1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], Francesca Carrara. […], volume III, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, pages 113–114:

     Little, however, of the wall was seen, for it was nearly hidden by the arched book-cases; and the ponderous tomes, mostly bound in black or white vellum, long since grown dingy with age, contrasted forcibly with the gayer ornaments of their habitation.

   • 1922, P. B. M. Allan, chapter VIII, in The Book-Hunter at Home‎^[1], 2nd edition, London: Philip Allan & Co., page 203:

     From this list are purposely omitted books printed upon vellum, Books of Hours of the Virgin Mary, and illuminated books; for these are rarities within reach of the wealthy only.

   • 2025 May 31, Tanjil Rashid, “Finding their religion”, in FT Weekend, Life & Arts, page 9:

     The metaphor is apt, imagining one's spiritual life as a poem, an authored thing, and not preserved on vellum either, but open to revision.

2. A writing paper of very high quality.

• bookfell
• parchment

• mulvel

vellum f

1. indefinite dative plural of vella

vellum

1. first-person plural present indicative of vella
2. first-person plural present subjunctive of vella

vellum

1. dative plural of vell
2. dative plural of vella

vellum

1. inflection of vella
   1. first-person plural present indicative of vella
   2. first-person plural imperative of vella