vellus

vellus, ĕris, n. [Sanscr. ura for vara, sheep; root var, to cover; Gr. er-ion, eiros, wool; Goth. vulla; Germ. Wolle].

I.

Lit., wool shorn off, a fleece:

pastores Palatini ex ovibus ante tonsuram inventam vellere lanam sunt soliti: a quo vellera dicuntur,

Varr. L. L. 5, §§ 54 and 130 Müll.; id. R. R. 2, 11, 9; Plin. 27, 7, 28, § 50; Lucr. 6, 504; Hor. Epod. 12, 21; id. Ep. 1, 10, 27; Ov. M. 6, 21; 14, 264.—

II.

Transf.

1.

The skin of a sheep with the wool on it, the fell or pelt entire, Col. 7, 4, 4; Tib. 2, 1, 62; Verg. E. 3, 95; id. A. 7, 95; Ov. H. 18, 144; id. F. 5, 102.

2.

The hide, pelt of any other animal:

fulvi leonis,

Ov. F. 2, 340; cf. id. ib. 5, 396:

cervina,

id. M. 6, 593; cf. id. ib. 3, 197:

ferina,

id. ib. 11, 4.—

3.

A sheep:

cultrosque in guttura velleris atri Conicit,

Ov. M. 7, 244; cf. Calp. Ecl. 2, 7.—

B.

Of woolly material.

1.

Wool, down: velleraque ut foliis depectant tenuia Seres, i. e. the fleeces or flocks of silk, Verg. G. 2, 121.—

2.

Of light, fleecy clouds:

tenuia nec lanae per caelum vellera ferri,

Verg. G. 1, 397; so Luc. 4, 124.—

3.

Of snow-flakes, Mart. 4, 3, 1.—

C.

Of things made of wool: Parnasia, woollen bands or fillets, Stat. S. 5, 3, 8.