On Tue, 12 Apr 2005 18:46:29 -0400, Peter T. Daniels
<grammatim@...> wrote:

> Vellum is (etymologically) calfskin, usually denoting merely a fine
> grade of parchment. Paper would go together with papyrus (and palm>
> leaves) as a vegetal writing surface.

I well recall in engineering departments that certain varieties of paper,
iirc used for reproducing engineering drawings, were commonly called
"vellum". Best guess is that they were high-quality cellulose paper,
probably treated or coated with some substance. Of course, this usage was
derivative.

Follow-up messages to the [vellum] list?

Regards,

--
Nicholas Bodley /*|*\ Waltham, Mass. (Not "MA")
The curious hermit -- autodidact and polymath