vellus, ĕris, n. [Sanscr. ura for vara, sheep; root var, to cover; Gr. ἔρ-ιον, εἶρος, 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.