Forms: α. 4–7 veluet, 4, 6 -ett (5 feluett), 6 -ette; 4– velvet (5 felvet, velveut, -ved, velavet), 5–7 velvett (6 -vytt), 7 villvet, & velvit. β. 5–6 velwet (5 felwet, 6 -weth); 5 vele-, vellewet (fellewet, felewote); velouet, -owet. γ. 5 weluette, 5–6 -wet(t, 6 wellweut, welvet, Sc. wellvet, welwete. δ. Sc. 5 veluate, 6 -uote, -uot(t; 6 weluot, -wot(e, wellwott, wolwat. ε. 6 vellett, -at (velat), Sc. -ot(e, 6–7 vellet. [ad. med.L. velvetum (-ettum), also vel(l)uetum (-ettum), app. representing a Romanic type *villūtettum, dim. of *villūtum, whence med.L. vel(l)utum (velotum), It. velluto, OF. velut, -ute, Sp. and Pg. velludo, ultimately f. L. vill-us shaggy hair. Cf. VELLUTE, VELOURS, and VELURE.]
I. 1. A textile fabric of silk having a short, dense and smooth piled surface; a kind or variety of this.
Also with defining terms as cotton, Genoa, raised, stamped velvet: see these words.
α. 1320. Wardr. Acc. Edw. II., 22/14. I couerchief de veluett.
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 2027. His cote, wyth þe conysaunce of þe clere werkez, Ennurned vpon veluet vertuuus stonez.
1351. Cal. Pat. Rolls 25 Edw. III., 137. j fanoun de murre velvet.
a. 1400. T. Chestre, Launfal, 950. Her sadell was semyly sett, The sambus wer grene felvet.
c. 1441. Pol. Poems (Rolls), II. 208. Farewelle, damask and clothes of gold; Farewelle, velvet, and clothes in grayn.
1483. in Somerset Med. Wills (1901), 245. To Allhalow Chirch of Aisheton my gown of blew feluett.
1538. Starkey, England, I. iv. (1871), 130. Yf the nobyllys … be not appayraylyd in sylkys and veluettys, they thynke they lake much of theyr honowre.
1555. Watreman, Fardle Facions, I. iv. 46. Tentes and pauilions placed in good ordre, of veluet and saten.
1601. Holland, Pliny, I. 124. That our ladies and wiues when they go abroad in the street may … shine again in their silks and veluets.
1694. Marten’s Voy. Spitzbergen, in Acc. Sev. Late Voy., II. 166. He is not as black as Velvet, as the Whale is, but like a Tench.
1735. Johnson, Lobo’s Abyssinia, Descr., iii. 55. They wear all sorts of Silks, and particularly the fine Velvets of Turkey.
1756–7. trans. Keysler’s Trav. (1760), II. 376. A suite of seven rooms furnished with red damask and velvet.
1807–8. W. Irving, Salmag. (1824), 262. The lady in blue velvet, who so attentively peruses her book.
1815. Elphinstone, Acc. Caubul (1842), I. 385. Embroidered satin, velvet, and Persian brocade are, of course, confined to the great.
1879. Cassell’s Techn. Educ., IV. 261/2. Mohair … is largely made into fabrics for ladies’ wear, linings, tabinets, plushes, and velvets.
β. a. 1400. T. Chestre, Launfal, 235. Har manteles wer of grene felwet, Ybordured with gold.
1423. Rolls of Parlt., IV. 255/1. Upon velowet, and Cloth of Gold.
c. 1430. Lydg., Min. Poems (Percy Soc.), 3. The noble Mayer clad in reed velewet. Ibid., 6. The tour arrayed withe velwettes softe.
1531. Rec. St. Mary at Hill (1905), 45. iij olde doblettes and Shredys of velwet.
1558. in Noake, Worcester Mon. (1866), 172. A coope of blewe felweth with oystars fethers.
γ. 1441–2. Durham Acc. Rolls (Surtees), 471. j vestimentum … de welwett.
a. 1450. Le Morte Arth., 2615. Hyr paraylle All of one hewe, Of a grene weluette.
1507. Pilton Churchw. Acc. (Som. Rec. Soc.), 52. A westement of grene wellwett. Ibid. A mantell of purpull wellweut.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Edw. IV., 234. On hys bonet of blacke welvet a floure delyce of golde.
a. 1578. Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 174. Ane ryding pie of blak wellvet. Ibid., 368. Claith of gould, welwete, sataine and dameis.
δ. 1436. Registr. Aberdon. (Maitland Cl.), II. 142. Vnus mantellus pro nostra domina borderatus cum ly veluate.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, lxxvii. 12. Four men of renoun, In gounes of veluot.
1572. Satir. Poems Reform., xxxiii. 254. His wyfe weiris weluot on hir Gowne and Coller.
1581. Burne, in Cath. Tract. (S.T.S.), 136. That the altaris vas vont to be ornit vith veluot.
ε. 1546–7. in Feuillerat, Revels Edw. VI. (1914), 6. For making of one doble turff Cappe of vellett white & Grene chekyd.
1547. Harl. MS. 1419 B., fol. 555 b. One placarde of Murrey vellat; another of crimson vellat.
c. 1550. Lyndesay, Tragedie, 21. [A man] In Rayment reid … Off vellot and of Saityng Crammosie.
1605. London Prodigal, I. i. 161. My ryding breeches, Vnckle, those that you thought had bene vellet.
1668. Bp. Hacket, in Surtees Misc. (1861), Introd. p. xiv. The most curious piece that I have seen of purple vellet.
b. A piece of this material. rare.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Sqr.’s T., 636. By hir beddes heed sche made a mewe, And covered it with veluettes [v.r. velowetys] blewe.
1848. Thackeray, Van. Fair, xli. Ropes, pails, velvets, ostrich feathers, and other mortuary properties.
c. In various fig. or allusive uses.
a. 1592. Greene & Lodge, Looking Gl., G.’s Wks. (Grosart), XIV. 90. If he were a king of veluet, I will talke to him.
1607. Merry Devil Edmonton, IV. i. 37. Thou speakst as true as veluet.
1672. T. Jordan, Lond. Triumph., 4. My father, store of velvet wore; My grandsire, beggars’ velvet!
a. 1700. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Velvet, a Tongue. Tip the Velvet, to Tongue a Woman. [Hence in later slang Dicts.]
1814. [see GENTLEMAN 5 c].
1823. Egan, Grose’s Dict. Vulg. T., s.v. Velvet, To the little gentleman in velvet, i. e. the mole that threw up the hill that caused Crop (King William’s horse) to stumble.
1882. Pidgeon, Engineer’s Holiday (1883), 167. Whose hand of iron was never ungloved with velvet.
1898. Westm. Gaz., 5 Jan., 3/2. Paul Mercer is born, not indeed in the purple, but in the velvet of vast wealth.
d. On velvet, in a position of ease or advantage; in an advantageous or prosperous condition.
Now chiefly in sporting slang (see later quots.), but formerly in more general use.
1769. Burke, Obs. Pres. St. Nat., Wks. II. 142. Not like our author, who is always on velvet, he is aware of some difficulties.
1785. Grose, Dict. Vulgar T., To be upon velvet, to have the best of a bet or match.
1789. Anburey, Trav., II. 382. Therefore, only tell General Phillips ‘that on that day I fought upon velvet,’ he will fully understand me.
1828. Scott, Jrnl., 23 Feb. We stand on velvet as to finance.
1845. Disraeli, Sybil (1863), 41. Before that we were on velvet; but the instant he appeared everything was changed.
1874. Slang Dict., 334. Men who have succeeded in their speculations, especially on the turf, are said to stand on velvet.
1897. Daily News, 1 June, 3/5. Is that what you call being ‘On velvet’ when you are sure to win something?—Yes.
e. A wearer of velvet.
1782. Mrs. H. Cowley, Which is the Man, III. iii. We had all the law ladies from Lincoln’s Inn, a dozen good velvets from Bishopsgate, with the wives and daughters of half the M.D.’s and LL.D.’s in town.
2. transf. The soft downy skin that covers a deer’s horn while in the growing stage.
c. 1410. Master of Game (MS. Digby 182), ii. Hir hornes benn keuered with a softe heer, þat hunters call veluetz.
1576. Turberv., Venerie, 47. Then they discouer themselues, going vnto the trees to fray their heads, and to rub of the veluet. Ibid., 244. His heade when it commeth first out, hath a russet pyll upon it, the whiche is called Veluet.
1697. Phil. Trans., XIX. 492. The Surface of the Horn, and the smooth Hairy Skin that covers them whilst they are growing (which is commonly call’d the Velvet).
1859. Todd’s Cycl. Anat., V. 518/1. In the early condition the horn is soft and yielding, and is protected only by a … delicate integument…. From this circumstance the skin is here termed the ‘velvet.’
1892. Pike, Barren Ground N. Canada, 43. It was a full-grown bull in prime condition, the velvet not yet shed, but the horns quite hard underneath.
b. In the phr. in velvet, said of the deer.
1880. W. Gill, River Golden Sand, I. viii. 370. The deer are only hunted when in velvet, and from the horns in this state a medicine is made.
1884. Jefferies, Red Deer, iv. 72. While this bark or skin remains on the horn the stag is said to be in velvet and is not hunted.
3. A surface, substance, etc., comparable to velvet in respect of softness or general appearance.
1597. A. M., trans. Guillemeau’s Fr. Chirurg., 41/2. The Potentiall Cauteryes nowe-adayes are indeede of velvet, and verye excellent. Ibid., 41 b/1. That is one of the best, which Mr. Paré calleth the Cauterye of Velvet.
1747. Gray, Death Fav. Cat, 9. The velvet of her paws.
1781. Cowper, Ep. Prot. Lady, 15. Where Nature has her mossy velvet spread.
1897. ‘O. Rhoscomyl,’ White Rose Arno, 267. Here is something to put velvet in the ale.
1904. R. J. Farrer, Garden Asia, 240. Every peak is clad in the velvet of wood and copse.
b. ellipt. A velvet cork.
1830. Edinb. Cycl., VII. I. 217/1. The finished corks are finally sorted by a boy into four kinds, superfine or velvets, fine, common, and coarse.
II. attrib. and Comb. 4. Attrib., in the sense ‘made of velvet,’ as velvet bag, band, cap, gown, etc., or ‘covered with velvet,’ as velvet cushion, furniture.
c. 1350. Lybeaus Disc., 838. A velvwet mantyll gay … Sche caste abowte her swyre.
1480. Wardr. Acc. Edw. IV. (1830), 149. A longe gowne of grene velvet upon velvet tisshue cloth of gold.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, lxxxviii. 36. Many a semely knyght … in velvet gownes and cheynes of gold.
1542. Test. Ebor. (Surtees), VI. 159. One other jackett … with velvett bandes.
1612. Pasquil’s Night-cap (1877), 37. I thinke them in their hattes as good, As Gentle-women in their veluethood.
1621. Sir R. Boyle, in Lismore Papers (1886), II. 17. My wives Tawney vellet gown.
c. 1645. in Verney Mem. (1907), I. 5. The red velvet furniture.
1780. Burke, Œcon. Reform., Wks. III. 321. Have their velvet bags, and their red boxes, been so full, that nothing more could possibly be crammed into them?
1796. Wolcot (P. Pindar), Satire, Wks. 1812, III. 408. Who with a velvet lash would flog a bear.
1828. Lytton, Pelham, III. v. Beneath this was a faded velvet waistcoat.
1848. Lady Lyttelton, Corr. (1912), 388. I am sending some narrow velvet ribbon to trim it along the tucks.
b. Attrib., in the sense ‘smooth or soft like velvet, velvety,’ as velvet down, hand, leaf, etc.
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., IV. iii. 105. Through the Veluet leaues the winde, All vnseene, can passage finde.
1598. Chapman, Hero & Leander, V. 439. Come Night and lay thy veluet hand On glorious Dayes outfacing face.
1616. J. Lane, Contn. Sqr.’s T., VI. 23. Which fertil zephirs velvet spirit bloweth.
1634. Milton, Comus, 898. Thus I set my printless feet O’re the Cowslips Velvet head.
1754. Gray, Progr. Poesy, 27. O’er Idalia’s velvet-green The rosy-crowned Loves are seen On Cytherea’s day.
1775. Sheridan, Duenna, II. i. Then the roses on those cheeks are shaded with a sort of velvet down.
a. 1805. H. K. White, Remains (1825), 365. Stretch’d supinely on the velvet turf.
1862. Mrs. Norton, Lady of La Garaye, Prol. 108. The soft white owl with velvet wings.
1880. Mrs. Forrester, Roy & V., I. 2. A tuft of dark velvet pansies on one side.
fig. 1592. Arden of Feversham, I. i. 324. Why, what art thou now but a Veluet drudge, A cheating steward, and base minded pesant?
1597. A. M., trans. Guillemeau’s Fr. Chirurg., 41 b/1. Receipte of the Velvet Cauterye.
1609. Ev. Woman in Hum., I. i., in Bullen, O. Pl., IV. I cannot soothe the World With velvet words and oyly flatteries.
1639. Fuller, Holy War, Ep. Ded. History is a velvet study and recreation work.
1647. N. Ward, Simple Cobler (1843), 86. I have … taken a few finish stitches, which may … please a few Velvet eares.
1818. Keats, Endym., IV. 297. With as sweet a softness as might be Remember’d from its velvet summer song.
1878. Browning, Poets Croisic, xciii. He … to such purpose intervenes That you get velvet-compliment, three-pile.
c. With names of colors, esp. velvet black.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., 335. Of the suffitus of a torch, doe Painters make a velvet blacke.
1662. Merrett, trans. Neri’s Art of Glass, cii. This is a most fair Velvet Black.
1798. Coleridge, Anc. Mar., IV. xiii. Blue, glossy green, and velvet black, They coiled and swam.
1809. Shaw, Gen. Zool., VII. II. 496. Velvet-black Paradise Bird. Ibid. (1811), VIII. I. 292. Velvet-crimson Humming-Bird.
5. Parasynthetic and instrumental, as velvet-bearded, -caped, -draped, -eared, -eyed, etc.
1611. L. Barry, Ram Alley, III. i. These *Veluet bearded boyes will still be doing, say what we old men can.
1593. Marlowe, Edw. II., II. i. 754. A *Veluet cap’de cloake, fac’st before with Serge.
1888. Miss Braddon, Fatal Three, I. i. The gentleman was standing with his back to the *velvet-draped mantel-piece.
1805. R. W. Dickson, Pract. Agric., I. 540. The hoary white [wheat], by some called the *velvet-eared, is by far the most valuable.
1702. Petiver, Gazophyl., I. § 10. The *Velvet-eyed Virginia Snap-Beetle.
1848. Thackeray, Van. Fair, lxi. The *velvet-footed butler brought them their wine.
1691. [? J. Bancroft], Edw. III. with Fall Mortimer, II. ii. These Peuking *velvethearted Wary Knaves that pretend to Scruples.
1876. ‘Ouida,’ Winter City, vi. She let him sit by her in little sheltered *velvet-hung nooks.
1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, xxxv. The broad-hatted,… *velvet-jacketed, jovial colony of the artists.
1859. Geo. Eliot, Adam Bede, xxxvii. There were the locket and earrings in the little *velvet-lined boxes.
1796. Burke, Lett. to Noble Lord, Wks. (1907), VI. 71. The demure, insidious,… *velvet-pawed, green-eyed philosophers.
1854. Grace Greenwood, Haps & Mishaps, 17. The *velvet-sheathed dagger of Queen Elizabeth.
1891. C. James, Rom. Rigmarole, 103. The two miles home were like walking in velvet-soled shoes.
1870. Pouchet’s Universe, 109. Certain *velvet-winged Phalenæ.
6. Objective, with agent-nouns, as velvet-dresser, -maker, -weaver, etc.; also velvet merchant.
1530. Palsgr., 284/2. Velvetmaker, ueloustier.
1653. Urquhart, Rabelais, I. lvi. 247. Velvet-weavers, Tapestrie-makers and Upholsterers.
1677. Miége, Fr. Dict., I. Veloutier,… a Velvet-maker.
1848. Mill, Pol. Econ., I. v. § 9 (1876), 51. This change … only transfers Employment from velvet-makers to bricklayers.
1858. Simmonds, Dict. Trade, Velvet-dresser, a cleaner and dyer of velvet. Ibid., Velvet-manufacturer, a weaver of velvet.
1860. Ruskin, Unto this Last, iv. § 76, note. He pays, probably, an intermediate ship-owner, velvet merchant, and shopman.
7. Special Combs.: velvet-brush (see quot.); † velvet-cap, one who wears a cap of velvet; a physician or student; velvet-cloth (see quots.); † velvet-coat, ? a young fop; velvet copper-ore, cyanotrichite; velvet-cork (see quot. and cf. 3 b); † velvet-guard, a trimming of velvet; a wearer of such trimmings; † velvet-jacket, an attendant or retainer wearing a jacket of velvet; velvet-loom, a loom for weaving velvet; velvet-painting (see quot. 1849–50); velvet-paper (see quot.); velvet-pile attrib., having a pile like that of velvet; also absol., a carpet or cloth of this kind; velvet-plain poet., a card-table; velvet tip (see sense 2; in quot. used allusively); velvet tree, wire drawer, work (see quots.).
1858. Simmonds, Dict. Trade, *Velvet-brush, a brush used by ladies to remove dust, &c. from garments made of velvet.
1602. 2nd Pt. Return fr. Parnass., II. i. 554. It is requisite that the French Phisitions be learned and carefull, your English *veluet cap is malignant and enuious.
1630. Randolph, Aristippus, 12. Euery Prenctice can ieere at their braue Cassockes, and laugh the Veluet Caps out of countenance.
1882. Caulfeild & Saward, Dict. Needlework, 511/1. *Velvet cloth, a plain cloth with a gloss, employed in Ecclesiastical Embroidery. Ibid., Velvet cloths,… beautifully soft and warm descriptions of cloth, suitable for ladies’ jackets.
1549. Latimer, 2nd Serm. bef. Edw. VI., E j. Heare menes suetes your selfe I require you in goddes behalfe & put it not to the hearing of these *veluette cotes, these vp skippes.
1850. Ansted, Elem. Geol., Min., etc., § 504. *Velvet copper ore is probably also a silicate [of copper].
1855. Orr’s Circ. Sci., Geol., etc., 542. (Sulphates) Lettsomite, Velvet Copper Ore.
1883. Simmonds, Dict. Trade, *Velvet cork, the best kind of cork bark, which is of a reddish colour.
1596. Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., III. i. 261. Sweare mne, Kate,… A good mouth-filling Oath: and leaue in sooth, And such protest of Pepper Ginger-bread, To *Veluet-Guards, and Sunday-Citizens.
1610. Histriomastix, III. i. E j. Out on these veluet gards, and black lac’d sleeues, These simpring fashions simply followed.
1600. Heywood, 1 Edw. IV., Wks. 1874, I. 17. Spoken like a man, and true *veluet-iacket, And we will enter, or strike by the way.
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., 2699/1. *Velvet-loom, a pile-fabric loom.
1813. Examiner, 10 May, 298/1. A little skill in *velvet painting.
1849–50. Weale, Dict. Terms, Velvet painting is the art of colouring on velvet with transparent liquid and other ready diluted colours.
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., 2699/1. *Velvet-paper, wall-paper printed with glue and dusted with shearings of cloth or flock.
1851. Catal. Gt. Exhib., II. 564/1. *Velvet pile carpeting. Ibid. Patent velvet-pile and Brussels carpets.
1862. Catal. Internat. Exhib., Brit., II. No. 4006. Pilots, Cheviots, velvet piles.
1780. Cowper, Progr. Error, 169. Oh the dear pleasures of the *velvet plain, The painted tablets, dealt and dealt again.
1638. Ford, Fancies, III. iii. What, what, what, what! nothing but *velvet tips; you are of the first head yet.
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., 2699/1. *Velvet-tree (Puddling), the point where the draft from the neck of the furnace is turned upward into the stack.
1883. Simmonds, Dict. Trade, *Velvet wire drawer, a manufacturer of the metal wire used in velvet making.
1882. Caulfeild & Saward, Dict. Needlework, 511/1. *Velvet work … is … largely used in Church Embroideries as a background for altar cloths and hangings.
b. In names of animals (birds, insects, etc.), as velvet ant, a spider-ant (Cent. Dict., 1891); velvet crab, a species of swimming crab (Portunus puber); velvet-duck, a species of scoter (Œdemia fusca); velvet fairy (see quot.); velvet fiddler crab, = velvet crab; velvet fish (see quot.); † velvet runner, the water-rail; velvet scoter, = velvet duck; velvet sponge (see quots.).
1681. Grew, Musæum, I. V. iv. 120. The Claw of the Punger, or the *Velvet-Crab, called Pagurus.
1850. Miss Pratt, Comm. Things Sea-side, v. 288. Some of the most beautiful of our British crabs are those termed Velvet-crabs, on account of the velvety down with which the shell is covered.
1862. Ansted, Channel Islands, II. ix. 232. The spider crab, and swimming or velvet crab, are also eaten.
1678. Ray, Willughby’s Ornith., 363. The feathers of the whole body are so soft and delicate as nothing more, so that it might be not undeservedly called the *Velvet-Duck.
1768. Pennant, Brit. Zool., II. 493. Velvet Duck;… the plumage is of a fine black, and of the soft and delicate appearance of velvet.
1840. Col. Hawker, Diary (1893), II. 175. I made a capital shot at 6 black velvet ducks.
1870. Gillmore, trans. Figuier’s Reptiles & Birds, 235. The Velvet Duck (Anas fusca) … is the largest of the Scoters.
1881. Lyell, Fancy Pigeons, 86. The black Nürnberg swallow has most of these grease quills, and from its beautiful green lustre is called the *‘velvet fairy.’
1882. Cassell’s Nat. Hist., VI. 199. The *Velvet Fiddler Crab (Portunus puber) has … its entire carapace densely covered with hairs.
1898. Morris, Austral Eng., 489/1. *Velvet-fish, [the] name given in Tasmania to the fish Holoxenus cutaneus.
1678. Ray, Willughby’s Ornith., 315. The *Velvet Runner.
1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey), Velvet-Runner, a Water-Fowl, whose Feathers are black and smooth as Velvet.
1843. Yarrell, Brit. Birds, III. 215. Oidemia fusca, *Velvet Scoter.
1882. Cassell’s Nat. Hist., VI. 318. The ‘wool’ Sponge, which appears to be one or perhaps two species of the Hippospongia, H. gossypina, and H. meandriformis, the *‘velvet’ Sponge.
1883. W. S. Kent, in Fisheries Bahamas, 47. The so-called Velvet, Abacco-velvet, or Boat-sponge (S. equina, var. meandriniformis), differing from the Sheep’s-wool in the absence of the fleece-like tufts upon its outer surface.
c. In names of plants, as velvet-bean, an annual climbing-plant (Macuna utilis) bearing velvety pods; velvet-bur, a tropical plant of the vervain family; velvet-dock, common mullein; velvet-ear(ed) wheat, = velvet wheat; † velvet-flower (see quots.); velvet flower-de-luce, -grass, -moss (see quots.); velvet rose, a variety of rose with velvety petals; velvet-seed, a small evergreen West Indian tree; velvet wheat, a variety of white wheat with downy ears.
1898. Gardener’s Mag., 3 Sept., 569/2. The accounts … respecting the agricultural value of the Florida *velvet bean must be received with caution.
1866. Treas. Bot., 1207/2. *Velvet-bur, Priva echinata.
1863. Prior, Plant-n., *Velvet-Dock, from its soft leaves, Verbascum Thapsus.
1837. Brit. Husb. (L.U.K.), II. 138. We have … the ‘golden-ear,’ the *‘velvet-ear,’ the ‘egg-shell,’ and ‘hedge-wheat.’
1862. Morton, Farmer’s Cal., 547. Among white wheats … the *Velvet-eared, a short-strawed sort, is of remarkable quality and productiveness.
1548. Turner, Names Herbes (E.D.S.), 11. The other kynde [of Amaranthus] is called here in Englande of some purple *veluet floure, of other flouramore. Ibid., 80. Viola flammea,… in englishe veluet floure or french Marigoulde.
1573. Tusser, Husb. (1878), 96. Veluet flowers, or french Marigolds.
1578. Lyte, Dodoens, I. xviii. 168. These pleasant … floures are called in English floure Gentill, Floramor, and Purple veluet floure. [Hence in Gerarde and Cotgr.]
1863. Prior, Plant-n., Velvet-flower, from its crimson velvety tassels, Amaranthus caudatus.
1597. Gerarde, Herbal, 94. Iris Tuberosa. *Veluet flower de-luce.
1856. A. Gray, Man. Bot. (1860), 573. Holcus lanatus, *Velvet-Grass.
1858. Simmonds, Dict. Trade, *Velvet-moss, a name for the Gyrophora murina, a lichen used in dyeing, obtained in the Dovrefeldt mountains of Norway.
1597. Gerarde, Herbal, 1085. Rosa Holosericea, the *veluet Rose…. The flowers … of a deepe and blacke red colour, resembling red crimson veluet, whereupon some haue called it the Veluet Rose.
1786. Abercrombie, Gard. Assist., Arr. 33/1. Velvet rose (single).
1893. G. D. Leslie, Lett. Marco, i. 5. A rose that is almost obsolete,… called the velvet rose.
1866. Treas. Bot., 1207/2. *Velvet-seed, Guettarda elliptica.
1771. A. Young, Farmer’s Tour East Eng., II. 485. Mr. Arbuthnot gathered six ears of this wheat,… and carrying it to market, the farmers remarked that they knew it, but had lost the sort, and called it *velvit wheat.
1856. Morton, Cycl. Agric., II. 1131/1. Some Scotch wheats have become greatly mixed with velvet wheat.
