Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PARCH-MENT, n. [Fr. parchemin; It. pargameno; Sp. pargamino; Arm. parich or parichemin; D. parkement; G. pergament; L. pergamena; supposed to be from Pergamus, to whose king, Eumenes, the invention has been ascribed. This is probably a mere conjecture, originating in a resemblance of orthography; such conjectures being very common. In Spanish, parche is parchment, and a piece of linen covered with ointment or plaster. It is more probable that the first syllable is from some root that signifies to cleanse, purify or make clear, perhaps the root of L. purgo, or the oriental ברק or פרג. See Membrane. See Class Br, No. 9, and Class Brg, No. 4, 5.]

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. – Encyc.