vellum n 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
Vellum \Vel"lum\, n. [OE. velim, F. v['e]lin, fr. L. vitulinus of a calf, fr. vitulus a calf. See {Veal}.] A fine kind of parchment, usually made from calfskin, and rendered clear and white, -- used as for writing upon, and for binding books. [1913 Webster] {Vellum cloth}, a fine kind of cotton fabric, made very transparent, and used as a tracing cloth. [1913 Webster]