Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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}.]
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}.
Diver \Div"er\, n.
1. One who, or that which, dives.
Divers and fishers for pearls. --Woodward.
2. Fig.: One who goes deeply into a subject, study, or
business. ``A diver into causes.'' --Sir H. Wotton.
3. (Zo["o]l.) Any bird of certain genera, as {Urinator}
(formerly {Colymbus}), or the allied genus {Colymbus}, or
{Podiceps}, remarkable for their agility in diving.
Note: The northern diver ({Urinator imber}) is the loon; the
black diver or velvet scoter ({Oidemia fusca}) is a sea
duck. See {Loon}, and {Scoter}.