Onionskin

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A paper characterized by its thinness and translucency, similar to the outer layer of an onion, often utilized in printing and artistic endeavors
2. A delicate, semi-transparent paper that mimics the appearance of onion skin, commonly employed for creating layered designs and drafts
3. A type of lightweight, translucent paper that resembles the texture of an onion's skin, frequently used in art and crafting for its unique properties

Etymology: Onionskin is about as transparent as English compounds get: "onion" plus "skin", named for how thin and papery the outer layer of an onion is. The paper got its name from its look and feel, which is thin, slightly crinkly, and partly see-through, much like the membrane that peels off a bulb. The word's history is plain, so the interesting part is the material itself. Lightweight translucent paper of this kind was prized for making copies and for letters sent abroad, where postage was charged by weight. Artists and crafters later valued the same qualities for tracing and for layering, since the sheet lets light and underlying lines show through.