Spot the Frippet: velum.

No, not vellum: velum.

Vellum, the prepared skin of calves, kids or lambs, you'll find in very old and precious books. If you're lucky enough to have any around.

A velum you carry around with you all the time.

Velum comes from the Latin word for veil, and you can find vela running round the rims of jellyfish, or in the mouths of some baby molluscs.

If you don't fancy looking into the mouth of a baby mollusc (and who could blame you) then your own soft palate is a velum, too.

It's Autumn here in England, and perhaps you have vela on toast for tea. A velum is the thin bit of skin-type stuff that in a young mushroom joins the cap to the stem.

The jiuces of fried vela running over the roof-of-the-mouth velum.

Mmmm....I think I might have to go shopping...

Spot the Frippet: velum. This word is the Latin for veil.