P'ARCHMENT, [Latin pergamena; purgo] The skin of a sheep or goat dressed or prepared and rendered fit for writing on. This is done by separating all the flesh and hair, rubbing the skin with pumice stone, and reducing its thickness with a sharp instrument. Vellum is made of the skins of abortive or very young calves.
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Webster's Dictionary 1828
American Dictionary of the English Language, Noah Webster, 1828.