velariam

[Lat.] Rom. Antiq .: The great awning stretched over the roofle Roman theaters or amphitheaters, as a protection against rain or the sun's rays. These awnings were generally of wool or linen; cotton was used for the purpose a little before the time of Julius Cæsar ( Plin ., H. N. , xix. 1, 6.) This vast extent of canvas was supported by masts ( Lucr ., vi. 105) fixed in rings in the outer wall. In the Great Theater at Pompeii, these rings may still be seen; they are at regular intervals, and one above another, so that each mast was fixed in two rings, There is a similar contrivance in the Coliseum at Rome; but there the masts were on the outside of the walls, and rested on consoles, pa ing through holes cut in the cornice. Rome; (2) a town on the coast of Lucania.] Entomology : A genus of Hydro me tride (q. v.). Antennae filiform, four-jointed, the first joint the longest, the others about equal to each other in length, and bent at an angle with the first. Rostrum two-jointed; legs moderate, nearly equid is tant. *vě-lif-er-ous, a. [Lat. velum a sail, and fero =to bear.] Bearing or carrying sails. "They invented veliferous chariots."- Evelyn : Naviga tion and Commerce. *vě-lig-er-oŭs, adj . [Latin velum and gero to bear.] Bearing a velum (q. v.). vě-linçhe', va-linch', s. [VALINCH.] *věl-i-tā-tion, s. [Lat. velitatio , from velitatus , pa. par. of velitor to skirmish, from veles (gen it. velitis )=a light-armed soldier. A dispute or contest; a slight skirmish. "But all these were but small velitations and conflicts preparatory to the main battle." - Hale: Cont.; Of the Knowledge of Christ Crucified. *vě-liv-o-lant, a. [Lat. velivolans , from velum =a sail, and volans , pr. par. of volo to fly.] Pa ing under sail. věll, s. [FELL, s.] The maw or stomach of a young calf, used for rennet. (Prov.) věll, v. t. [VELL, subst.] To cut off the turf or sward of, as of land. ( Prov.) věl-lạ, s. [Said to be from Celtic veler; Gaelic biolar =a cre .] Botany: Cre -rocket; the typical genus of Vellide (q. v.). Calyx erect; pouch swollen, two celled, with a dilated flat-winged style, twice as long as the valves; seeds four in each cell. Vella annua , the Annual Cre -rocket, is said to have been fo been found on Salisbury Plain, but not since the IMG:content-0428.png:[blocks in formation]