parchment (parch|ment)

noun

• a stiff, flat, thin material made from the prepared skin of an animal, usually a sheep or goat, and used as a durable writing surface in ancient and medieval times: he borrowed a quill and a piece of parchment his skin stretched like old parchment over his cheeks [as modifier]: parchment rolls
• [count noun] a manuscript written on parchment: a large collection of ancient parchments
• (also parchment paper) a type of stiff translucent paper treated to resemble parchment and used for lampshades, as a writing surface, and in baking: line a 2 lb loaf tin with baking parchment
• [count noun] informal a diploma or other formal document: she taught for two years till she got her parchment