bookfell

From Middle English bocfel (“parchment”), from Old English bōcfell (“parchment, vellum”), equivalent to book +‎ fell. Cognate with Old High German buohfel, puohfell (“parchment”), Middle High German buohvël (“parchment”), Old Norse bókfell (“parchment”).

bookfell (plural bookfells)

1. A skin prepared for writing upon; a sheet of vellum or parchment; paper.
2. A vellum or parchment manuscript.
   • 1866, Thomas Oswald Cockayne, Apuleius (Barbarus), Dioscorides Pedanius (of Anazarbos), Leechdoms, wortcunning, and starcraft of early England:

     Write this on a bookfell or parchment so long that it may embrace the head on the outside, and hang it on the neck of the man who needs it; it will soon be well with him.

   • 1878, George Stephens, Thunor the Thunderer:

     I cannot refer to any facsimile of this bookfell.