| Summary: | vellum n Remarks from my _JEngL_ essay with R. Hollett: _vellum_ is from M French, from _veal_, and is used _only_ in English for 'parchment," a book word. _Film_ is an OE word with diverse anatomical senses related to animals and growing things. Wirght accepts _vellum_ in his reports and has no _film_. Since many people pronounce it _fillum_, is the DNE _vellum_ simply a variant pronounciation? If it had been collected as _fellum_ we wouldn't have hesitated to put it at _film_. Orton's reports don't help us much--no _film_ or _vellum_; maybe I can find some-_lm_ words with -_lum_ pronunciations. Conclusion: concidence may have led John and us and Wright to write down _vellum_, our word for lovely old MS books. If JW had instead written velm [PT], we might have thought twice and visualized instead the repulsive membranes of internal organs of animals: film [PT]. W.Kirwin JAN 18 1986 SUP WK Used I Used I Not used
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