V E N 



VELEL LA, Lat. velum, a sail. A genus 

 of acalephes, possessing a vertical crest 

 or sail, by which they are wafted along 

 the surface of the ocean. 



VEL'LCM, Fr. relin, from Lat r,'o. A 

 fine sort of parchment (q. v.1. 



VELO'CE, It. sieift. In music, signifies a 

 rapid manner of performing. 



VELO'CIPEDE. A rehlcl* contorting rt- 

 ginally of a piece of wood resting on tw 

 wheels, and so constructed, that an indiridud 

 might seat himself upon it as upon bone- 

 back, yet so that the rider coul.l propel the 

 machine by pressing his feet slightly againit 

 the ground. He c<wM in this way travel at 

 the rate of ten miles an hour. This rude 

 first idea has now been completely super- 

 seded bv the more modern BICYCLE, by 

 which the front wheel is converted into a 

 driving wheel or propeller, by means of a 

 crank handle on each side of it, which the 

 rider works with his feet. By this improved 

 arrangement a greatly increased velocity 

 may be achieved, with much more comfort 

 and ease to the rider. Tricycles or vehicles 

 with two wheels behind and a driving 

 wheel in front, and capable of carrying 

 luggage, may be also used on this improved 

 principle ; or even four wheels and a driving 

 wheel might be employed and made useful 

 for the conveyance of infantry with their 

 personal baggage in time of war, and they 

 might be armed with a rifle- proof shield, 

 and provided with abed of Mackintosh cloth, 

 to be either swung or laid on damp ground 

 with impunity, saying soldiers both fatigue 

 and exposure. 



VELO'CITT. In dynamics, the ratio of 

 the quantity of linear extension that has 

 been passed over in a certain portion of 

 time ; or it is the ratio of the time that 

 has been employed in moving along a de- 

 terminate extension. 



VEL'VET, Ital. telhtto, from Lat. vellus, 

 hair or nap. A rich silk stuff, covered on 

 the outside with a close, fine, short shag 

 or nap. The same name is also given to 

 cotton stuffs manufactured in the same 

 way. 



VE'NA CAVA. Hollow vein. A large vein 

 vthe largest in the body), which transmits 

 the blood from the extremities to the 

 heart. 



VE'NA POR'TA. A great vein, so named 

 from its being situated at the entrance of 

 the liver. It receives the blood from the 

 abdominal viscera, and carries it into the 

 substance of the liver. 



VEXE'ER. In cabinet tcork, a thin piece 

 ef a more valuable kind of wood, for co- 

 vering furniture, &c., which is made of a 

 tuore common kind. 



VENETIAN. Appertaining to Venice. 

 Venetian blind, a peculiar blind for win- 

 lows, formed of slips of wood set in a 

 Crime, each slip being moreable ca end- 



v >: p 



I pins, and so disposed that th 

 made to overlap each other when close, 

 and show a series of op.;n spa' 

 mission of air and light in the other posi- 

 tion. These movements are managed 

 without trouble by means of two c.mi>. 

 Venetian door, a door which is lighted at 

 each side. J~enttinn window, u 

 three separate apertures. Venetian chalk, 

 steatite. 



VEXE'TIAN SCHOOL. In painting, its dis- 

 tinguishing characteristic is colouring. 

 and a consummate knowledge of chiaro- 

 scuro, in which all is spirit, grace, and 

 faithfulness. 



VE'XIAL Sis, Lat. renia, forgiveness. It 

 Koinish theology, a sin which does not de- 

 struy sanctifying grace. 



VEM'RE FACIAS. A judicial writ, ia 

 Inn;, directed to the sheriff, to cause a 

 jury to come or appear in the neighbour- 

 hood where a cause is brought to issue, to 

 try the same. 



VEXTA'YLE. The visor of a helmet. 



VEX'TKR ,'Lst.). lu insects, the lower 

 part of the abdomen. 



VESTILA'TUR. In mechanics, a mach : .ne 

 by which noxious air may be discharged 

 from places where it is stagnant. as hospi- 

 tals, gaols, &c., and replaced by fresh air. 



VEX'TRICLE. from venter. A term applied 

 by anatomists to the cavities of the brain 

 and heart. 



VEX'TRICOSE, Lat. ventrtcosus, bellied, 

 tenter, a belly. Distended, bellying. Ap- 

 plied chiefly in botany. 



YENTRIL'OQCISM, from venlfr, the bellf, 

 and loquor, to speak. The formation of 

 the voice within the mouth, in such a 

 way as to imitate other voices than that 

 which is natural to the person, and so as 

 not to be seen to move the lips. This art 

 depends on the organs of speech being 

 very perfect, but requires no organisation 

 different from that which is commonly- 

 found in man. A ventriloquist is a profes- 

 sor of ventriloquism. 



VEXC'E, Lat. vicinetum, neighbourhood. 

 In laic, the county in which an action is 

 to be tried, which is specified in all mate- 

 rial allegations in the pleadings. 



VENUS. 1. In mythology, the goddessof 

 beauty and love among the Romans ; the 



Greeks called her Afftitn). 2. In the 



old chemistry, copper. 3. Inmalacology, 



a genus of testaceous Acephala, belonging 

 to the Cardiacea.^ 4. In astronomy, one 

 of the planets, situated between the 

 Earth and Mercury, and never distant 

 from the Sun more than 45. Diameter, 

 9330 miles; distance from the Sun, 

 68,891,436 miles: year, 224 days and 17 

 hours.' Designated by ^ . 



VEPRE'CULJS. The 31st natural order 

 of Linne, comprehending pliant shrabg. 

 as the bramble (vepret), K -um'^e gn>wt> 



