from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
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]