Velvet \Vel"vet\, n. [OE. velouette, veluet, velwet; cf. OF.
velluau, LL. velluetum, vellutum, It. velluto, Sp. velludo;
all fr. (assumed) LL. villutus shaggy, fr L. villus shaggy
hair; akin to vellus a fleece, and E. wool. See Wool, and
cf. Villous.]
[1913 Webster]
1. A silk fabric, having a short, close nap of erect threads.
Inferior qualities are made with a silk pile on a cotton
or linen back, or with other soft fibers such as nylon,
acetate, or rayon.
[1913 Webster + PJC]
2. The soft and highly vascular deciduous skin which envelops
and nourishes the antlers of deer during their rapid
growth.
[1913 Webster]
3. Something likened to velvet[1] in being soft or luxurious;
as, a lawn of velvet.
[PJC]
Cotton velvet, an imitation of velvet, made of cotton.
Velvet cork, the best kind of cork bark, supple, elastic,
and not woody or porous.
Velvet crab (Zool.), a European crab (Portunus puber).
When adult the black carapace is covered with a velvety
pile. Called also lady crab, and velvet fiddler.
Velvet dock (Bot.), the common mullein.
Velvet duck. (Zool.)
(a) A large European sea duck, or scoter (Oidemia
fusca). The adult male is glossy, velvety black, with
a white speculum on each wing, and a white patch
behind each eye.
(b) The American whitewinged scoter. See Scoter.
Velvet flower (Bot.), love-lies-bleeding. See under Love.
Velvet grass (Bot.), a tall grass (Holcus lanatus) with
velvety stem and leaves; -- called also soft grass.
Velvet runner (Zool.), the water rail; -- so called from
its quiet, stealthy manner of running. [Prov. Eng.]
Velvet scoter. (Zool.) Same as Velvet duck, above.
Velvet sponge. (Zool.) See under Sponge.
in velvet having a coating of velvet[2] over the antlers;
in the annual stage where the antlers are still growing;
-- of deer.
[1913 Webster + PJC]
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