Catholic Dictionary

Find accurate definitions of over 5,000 Catholic terms and phrases (including abbreviations). Based on Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

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SCROLL

An ancient book in rolled-up shape. The writing was done on papyrus, animal skin, or parchment, each piece approximately six inches wide and ten inches long. The pieces were sewn together and rolled smoothly around a stick. The reader would unroll the manuscript off the stick onto another stick. Frequently the rol would be over a hundred feet long. Much of the Old and New Testaments was written on scrolls, as were literary and scientific documents. The title was sometimes written on the outside edge of the scroll. (Etym. Middle English scrowle; from Old French escro(u)e, strip of parchment; from Frankish skroda, peice, shred.)