velvet fiddler

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. [1913 Webster]

2. The soft and highly vascular deciduous skin which envelops and nourishes the antlers of deer during their rapid growth. [1913 Webster]

{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}. [1913 Webster]