n. & adj.
n. 1 a closely woven fabric of silk, cotton, etc., with a thick short pile on one side. 2 the furry skin on a deer's growing antler. 3 anything smooth and soft like velvet.
adj. of, like, or soft as velvet. on velvet in an advantageous or prosperous position. velvet glove outward gentleness, esp. cloaking firmness or strength (cf. iron hand). velveted adj. velvety adj.
[ ME f. OF veluotte f. velu velvety f. med.L villutus f. L villus tuft, down ]