Pronunciation: [ˈʌni͡ən skˈɪn] (IPA) 
The word "onion skin" is spelled as /ˈʌn.jən/ /skɪn/. In this two-word compound noun, the first word "onion" is spelled according to its typical English spelling, while the second word "skin" is spelled phonetically with "sk" representing the /sk/ sound and "in" representing the /ɪn/ sound. The word "onion skin" refers to a thin, papery outer layer of an onion, often used by artists as tracing paper due to its translucency.
Onion skin refers to a thin, translucent paper commonly used for tracing or overlaying drawings and designs. This Paper is typically lightweight and semi-transparent, resembling the outer layers of an onion, hence its name. It is primarily used in art, illustration, and graphic design to create multiple copies of an original drawing or to experiment with different designs without permanently altering the original artwork.
With its delicate and transparent nature, onion skin paper allows artists to see through the sheet and trace or copy underlying images accurately. It is often preferred for creating rough sketches or initial drafts before moving on to the final artwork. The thinness and translucency of the paper allow for easy transfer of designs onto other surfaces.
Onion skin paper is also commonly utilized in animation, particularly traditional hand-drawn animation techniques. Animators place a new drawing on top of a previous one, using the onion skin paper as an overlay, enabling them to see the previous frames and maintain consistency of movement as they create the next drawing in sequence.
The term "onion skin" can also refer to a feature in computer software used for animation or video editing. This feature provides a reference of previous and upcoming frames on the screen, resembling the translucent layers of an onion skin. The onion skin feature aids animators and editors in maintaining visual continuity and smooth transitions between frames or shots.
The etymology of the word "onion skin" refers to the origins and development of the individual words that make up the term.
1. Onion: This word traces back to the Old English word "ynen" and the Old French word "oignon", both of which were derived from the Latin word "unio". "Unio" originally referred to a large pearl or a type of onion, and eventually, the meaning of the word shifted to predominantly represent the vegetable we now know as an onion.
2. Skin: The term "skin" has roots in Old English, where it was spelled as "sceinn" or "scinn". It is related to the Old Norse word "skinn" and the Old High German word "hudi". These words ultimately derive from the Proto-Germanic word "skinnan", which referred to animal hide or the thin outer layer covering something.
