vellus
.
Searchable Lemmata: vellus (L).
Alternate Forms: vellerosus, vellis, velumen, veluminis.
Definitions and Defining Citations:
1(n.)
Raw Material;
wool. In certain contexts, a fleece. Cf. vellous.(ante 700 - post 1500)
1. Lana a laniando, id est a vellendo, vocata: hinc et vellus dictum, quod prius lanae vellerentur, non tonderentur. Linum ex terra oritur, deflexumque nomen eius a Graeco; nam linum Graeci LINARION dicunt; sive quod sit molle et lene.
[DOE ISID. Etym. (19,27,1)]
3. & astag swa swa regn on fleos & swa swa ðrowung ðrowiende ofer eorðan Et descendit sicut pluvia in vellus et sicut stillicidia stillantia super terram.
[DOE PsGlB (Brenner) (104200 (71.6))]
Sex: N/A Ceremonial: No
Body Parts:
2(n.)
Garment;
a cloak. The Revised Medieval Latin World-List notes an instance for c. 1250 (no citation available). Cf. vellous sense 2b.(circa 1250)
Sex: Male, Female Ceremonial: No
Body Parts:
Etymological Evidence:
Definite, Classical Latin, from a root cognate with the source of English wool, Irish olann, Welsh gwlan, etc. There are rare instances of the variant form velumen 'fleece', which has been conflated with the word velamen (q.v.) 'a covering' (no citations available).
WF: Borrowed into the British Isles
Etym Cog: wool.
References:
