onionskin

/ˈʌnjənˌskɪn/
noun
  1. A thin, lightweight paper that is somewhat transparent, used especially for carbon copies or airmail letters.
    • He carefully peeled a sheet of onionskin from the pad to insert into the typewriter.
    • The old office still had a box of onionskin paper for making carbon copies.
    • She typed the letter on onionskin so it would be light enough to mail overseas.
  2. The thin, papery outer layer of an onion bulb.
    • He saved the dried onionskin to use as a natural dye for Easter eggs.
    • The onionskin crackled as she peeled it away from the white flesh.
    • A piece of onionskin fluttered to the kitchen floor as she chopped the onion.
What does "onionskin" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean