parchment

The story

1. Ancient GreekΠέργαμον (Pérgamon)
2. Ancient GreekΠεργαμηνὴ (διφθέρα) (Pergamēnḕ (diphthéra))
3. Vulgar Latin*pergamīnus
4. Old Frenchparchemin
5. Middle Englishparchemyn
6. English todayparchment

From Middle English parchemyn, parchement, from Old French parchemin, via Latin pergamīna, from Ancient Greek Περγαμηνός (Pergamēnós, “of Pergamon”), which is named for the ancient city of Pergamon (modern Bergama) in Asia Minor, where it was invented as an expensive alternative for papyrus. Cognate with Danish pergament, Dutch perkament, French parchemin, German Pergament, Greek περγαμηνή (pergaminí), Italian pergamena, Norwegian pergament, Portuguese pergaminho, Galician pergameo, Romanian pergament, Russian пергамент (pergament), Spanish pergamino, and Swedish pergament.

Words from the same roots