velvet grass
NounWordNet 3.0
Noun (1)
- tall European perennial grass having a velvety stem; naturalized in United States and used for forageSynonyms: velvet grassYorkshire fogHolcus lanatus
Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)
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]