Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of 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}.
\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.
\Vel"vet\, v. t. To make like, or cover with, velvet. [R.]