a. [f. VELVET sb.]
1. Having the smooth and soft appearance or feel of velvet.
1752. J. Hill, Hist. Anim., 77. The oriental velvety Papilio, with short antennæ.
1796. Withering, Brit. Pl. (ed. 3), III. 569. Leaves very soft, and almost velvety.
1807. Vancouver, Agric. Devon (1813), 337. Skin loose, free, and velvety to the touch.
1830. Lindley, Nat. Syst. Bot., 185. Their stigmas generally long and velvety externally.
1882. Garden, 10 June, 399/3. Its dark velvety and rich yellow flowers are very fine indeed.
Comb. 1846–50. A. Wood, Class-bk. Bot., 209. Leaves … velvety-tomentose.
1878. Mrs. F. D. Bridges, Jrnl. Lady’s Trav. round World, i. Aug. (1883), 2. Our ship moving almost noiselessly across the velvety-looking sea.
b. Applied to colors. (Cf. VELVET sb. 4 c.)
1819. Stephens, in Shaw’s Gen. Zool., XI. I. 135. The under part of the wings are of a fine velvety black.
1876. Black, Madcap Violet, vii. She was calling attention … to the light velvety green.
1883. ‘Ouida,’ Wanda, I. 40. A deep brown hue, like the velvety brown of a stag’s throat.
2. Characteristic of velvet; similar to that of velvet.
1846. G. E. Day, trans. Simon’s Anim. Chem., II. 397. Presenting a beautiful white velvety appearance.
1847–9. Todd’s Cycl. Anat., IV. I. 143/2. Of velvety look and feel.
1880. Daily Tel., 16 Feb. The well-remembered tones had lost something of their old velvety quality.
1884. Law Times Rep., L. 421/1. It is the grouping and velvety effect they produce which is original.
3. fig. Unusually or attractively smooth, soft or gentle.
1861. Cunningham, Wheat & Tares, 82. The other’s velvety manner made him chafe and fret.
1896. Strand Mag., XII. 329/1. The tiny bells of the lime-blossoms … mingled their soft, velvety murmur with the other peaceful sounds of Nature.
b. Smooth and soft to the taste.
1888. Harper’s Mag., July, 216/2. The rum is velvety, sugary, with a pleasant, soothing effect.
1908. R. Bagot, A. Cuthbert, xi. 125. Accompanied by the softest and most velvety of sauces.
