palimpsest vs vellum

palimpsest

noun
  • A manuscript or document that has been erased or scraped clean, for reuse of the paper, parchment, vellum, or other medium on which it was written. 

  • The partial erasure of or superimposition on an older society or culture by a newer one. 

  • Something bearing the traces of an earlier, erased form. 

  • Geological features thought to be related to features or effects below the surface. 

  • Memory that has been erased and re-written. 

  • Circular features believed to be lunar craters that have been obliterated by later volcanic activity. 

verb
  • To scrape clean, as in parchment, for reuse. 

  • On paper: to reuse, often by erasure or change of pen direction or color. Especially fueled by Earth Day. 

vellum

noun
  • A writing paper of very high quality. 

  • A type of parchment paper made from the skin of a lamb, baby goat, or calf. 

How often have the words palimpsest and vellum occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )