The word 'vellum' has a direct lineage tracing back to the material it describes. It entered Middle English from the Old French 'velin', an adjective meaning 'made from calfskin'. This French term finds its source in the Latin 'vitulinus', meaning 'pertaining to a calf', which is derived from 'vitulus', the Latin word for a calf. Thus, the term's journey from Latin through French into English consistently preserves its core association with calfskin, the original raw material for this high-quality writing surface. Over time, its meaning expanded to include high-grade paper that mimics the smooth, durable characteristics of the original animal skin.

The word 'vellum' is a simplex loanword. It originates from the Old French 'velin', meaning 'of a calf', which itself derives from the Latin 'vitulinus', meaning 'of a calf', from 'vitulus' (calf).