Velvetgrass
/ˈvɛlvɪtˌɡræs/noun
A tall perennial grass, especially Holcus lanatus, known for its soft, velvety flower clusters and leaves.
Did you know?Velvetgrass is not merely ornamental: Holcus lanatus can spread aggressively and is considered invasive in many regions, especially where it displaces native vegetation.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*welh₁-
“A reconstructed root associated with wool, hair, or a covering of fibers; it is connected with the ancestry of velvet through Latin villus.”
Classical Latin
Latin
villus
“Shaggy hair, tuft, or the nap of a fabric.”
12th–13th Century
Old French
velu / velous
“Hairy, shaggy, or covered with a fine nap.”
14th Century
Middle English
veluet
“Velvet, a fabric with a short, soft raised pile.”
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gʰreh₁-
“A reconstructed root meaning to grow or become green; it underlies the Germanic ancestry of grass.”
Old English
Old English
græs
“Grass or green herbage.”
19th Century
English
velvet-grass
“A compound name for grasses with soft, velvety foliage or flower heads, especially Holcus lanatus.”