parchemin

Forms

parchemin m (plural parchemins)^[1] Old French parcamin (about 1050); Anglo-Norman also parchamin and perchemin.^[2][3]

Etymology

It is inherited from Old French parcamin, inherited from Vulgar Latin *pergamīnus, a masculine form (perhaps with papyrus understood) beside the Late Latin feminine pergamēna (“parchment”), from Ancient Greek Περγαμηνή (Pergamēnḗ, “(hide) of Pergamon”); the making of parchment was said to have been invented at Pergamon in Asia Minor.^[2][4][1][5] The Late Latin feminine survives in Italian pergamena, while most Romance forms go back to a masculine with the suffix -īnus (already in Late Latin pergamina), as Spanish pergamino and Catalan pergamí; the /i/ may reflect the Greek change of /ē/ to /i/.^[2][4]

In the north of France the word took on the sounds of Latin Parthica (“Parthian (hide)”), which gave Old French parche “sheepskin leather”.^[2][4][6] The Grand Robert calls the change of form obscure.^[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

About 1050 the Vie de saint Alexis asks for enque e parcamin, ink and parchment: the prepared skin for writing on.^[2][8]

Semantic evolution

From the 9th to the 15th century parchment was the ordinary writing material in the West; the word lost weight as paper replaced it, especially after printing, though parchment stayed in use for diplomas, official acts and titles of nobility.^[4] By metonymy parchemin named a text written on parchment (1205–1250), and then a title of nobility proved by such documents (1577), which led to the familiar sense “university diploma” (1768).^[2][4]

By likeness of appearance it named the outer skin of peas, beans and coffee beans (1770) and dry, yellowish human skin (1720, son visage n'était qu'un vieux parchemin), uses largely taken over by parcheminé.^[2][4] Special phrases include parchemin vierge (1611) and the medical bruit de parchemin (1855).^[2][4]

Timeline

• c. 1050 – Parcamin appears in the Vie de saint Alexis.^[2]
• 1205–1250 – The Roman de Renart uses it for a written text.^[2]
• Late 13th century – The derivative parcheminier is recorded.^[4][6]
• 1577 – Belleau uses it for a title of nobility.^[2]
• 1611 – Cotgrave records parchemin vierge.^[2]
• 1720 – Hamilton compares a face to an old parchment.^[2]
• 1768 – Linguet uses it for a university diploma.^[2]
• 1770 – Raynal uses it for the skin of beans and coffee.^[2]
• 1855 – Bruit de parchemin is recorded in medicine.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. Parchment, animal skin (sheep, goat, calf) prepared for writing or bookbinding.^[9][10]
2. A text written on parchment, or on paper: de vieux parchemins.^[9][10]
3. (dated) A title of nobility.^[9]
4. (familiar) A university diploma.^[9][11]
5. The papery skin of certain seeds and pods, such as coffee beans.^[2]

Word family

• parcheminé
• parcheminier
• parchemineux

Related words

• vélin
• palimpseste
• Latin pergamēna

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
3. ^ Anglo-Norman Dictionary (AND2), Aberystwyth University, anglo-norman.net (2nd ed., 2005–)
4. ^ a b c d e f g h Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 8, 239b
6. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
7. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
9. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
10. ^ a b Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
11. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)