\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.]