WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Ve"lum
Part of Speech : n.;
Etymology : [L., an awning, a veil. See Veil.]
Definition : 1. (Anat.)

Defn: Curtain or covering; -- applied to various membranous partitions, especially to the soft palate. See under Palate.

2. (Bot.) (a) See Veil, n., 3 (b). (b) A thin membrane surrounding the sporocarps of quillworts Isoetes).

3. (Zo?l.)

Defn: A veil-like organ or part. Especially: (a) The circular membrane that partially incloses the space beneath the umbrella of hydroid medus?. (b) A delicate funnel-like membrane around the flagellum of certain Infusoria. See Illust. a of Protozoa.

pl. Vela.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913