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.]
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.
2. The soft and highly vascular deciduous skin which envelops
and nourishes the antlers of deer during their rapid
growth.
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 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. (Zo["o]l.)
(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 (Zo["o]l.), the water rail; -- so called from
its quiet, stealthy manner of running. [Prov. Eng.]
Velvet scoter. (Zo["o]l.) Same as Velvet duck, above.
Velvet sponge. (Zo["o]l.) See under Sponge.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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