VELLUM

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does vellum mean? 

• VELLUM (noun)
  The noun VELLUM has 2 senses:

1. a heavy creamy-colored paper resembling parchment

2. fine parchment prepared from the skin of a young animal e.g. a calf or lamb

  Familiarity information: VELLUM used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• VELLUM (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A heavy creamy-colored paper resembling parchment

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Hypernyms ("vellum" is a kind of...):

writing paper (paper material made into thin sheets that are sized to take ink; used for writing correspondence and manuscripts)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Fine parchment prepared from the skin of a young animal e.g. a calf or lamb

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Hypernyms ("vellum" is a kind of...):

lambskin; parchment; sheepskin (skin of a sheep or goat prepared for writing on)

 Context examples 

A sheet of vellum lay upon the board in front of him, and he held a pen in his hand, with which he had been scribbling in a rude schoolboy hand.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

As she arranged her table that morning, while the little girls were in the anteroom filling the baskets, she took up her pet production, a little book, the antique cover of which her father had found among his treasures, and in which on leaves of vellum she had beautifully illuminated different texts.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

From brother Francis I have learned to paint on vellum, on glass, and on metal, with a knowledge of those pigments and essences which can preserve the color against damp or a biting air.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

There was brother Bartholomew with a crucifix of rare carved ivory, and brother Luke with a white-backed psalter adorned with golden bees, and brother Francis with the Slaying of the Innocents most daintily set forth upon vellum.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)