velvet
VEL-vit
/ˈvɛlvɪt/
A closely woven fabric of silk, cotton, or nylon, that has a thick short pile on one side giving it a remarkably soft feel.
Connotes luxury, softness, depth of color, and high visual/tactile richness.
The story behind the word. Traced through Old French 'velous' back to Latin 'villus', meaning 'shaggy hair or tuft'. The double-cloth weaving technique required to make velvet—where two layers are woven simultaneously and then sliced apart—was perfected in medieval Baghdad and later flourished in Renaissance Italy.
Word relationships
- plush: Plush has a much longer, shaggier pile than true velvet.
- velveteen: Velveteen is a cotton imitation with a shorter, stiffer pile.
- burlap: Burlap is coarse, rough, open-weave jute material.
- canvas: Canvas is plain-woven, tough, and completely un-napped.
Commonly confused with
- velour: Velour is a knitted fabric with a pile, making it stretchier than woven velvet.
Word family
- velvety (adjective): Having the smooth, soft texture of velvet.
Collocations
- velvet rope
- black velvet
- crushed velvet
- smooth as velvet
Idioms & expressions
- iron fist in a velvet glove
- velvet revolution
Example sentences
- "She wore a deep crimson velvet jacket that caught the ambient candlelight in the dining hall." Fashion citation
- "The night sky was a smooth sheet of dark blue velvet dotted with silver stars." Literary excerpt
Memory hook
VELVET feels VELVETY soft on your hands. Soft royal pile.
When not to use
Do not confuse with 'velveteen' (an imitation velvet usually made of short-pile cotton).
Fun facts
- The term 'velvet rope' originated in exclusive high-society nightclubs in the early 20th century to manage elite entrance lines.
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