Vel`ver*et" (?), n. A kind of velvet having cotton back.
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. (Zoöl.) (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
(Zoöl.), the water rail; — so called from its quiet, stealthy manner of
running. [Prov. Eng.] — Velvet scoter. (Zoöl.) Same as Velvet duck,
above. — Velvet sponge. (Zoöl.) See under Sponge.
Vel"vet, a. Made of velvet; soft and delicate, like velvet; velvety. "
The cowslip's velvet head." Milton.
Vel"vet, v. i. To pain velvet. [R.] Peacham.