Meaning of "it's like moist black velvet." (From The Most Dangerous Game)

Question

"Can't see it," remarked Rainsford, trying to peer through the dank tropical night that was palpable as it pressed its thick warm blackness in upon the yacht.
"You've good eyes," said Whitney, with a laugh," and I've seen you pick off a moose moving in the brown fall bush at four hundred yards, but even you can't see four miles or so through a moonless Caribbean night."
"Nor four yards," admitted Rainsford. "Ugh! It's like moist black velvet."

What does that mean it's like moist black velvet.?

Nai45 · Answer

The definition of velvet:
vel·vet
/ˈvelvət/
noun
a closely woven fabric of silk, cotton, or nylon, that has a thick short pile on one side.
The definition of black:
black
/blak/

of the very darkest color owing to the absence of or complete absorption of light; the opposite of white.

The definition of moist:
moist
/moist/
adjective
slightly wet; damp or humid.
"the air was moist and heavy"
The simile "moist black velvet" is using sensory language. The sense of sight is applied by using the word "black" and the sense of touch is applied with "moist" because it helps describe the ocean. The third word, "velvet" is also used as a sense of touch, helping describe the smooth soft texture of the night, with the word "velvet".
This link here will help describe this exact simile:
https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/richard-connells-most-dangerous-game-what-some-508021
The following links should help with similes and metaphors:
https://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-similes.html
https://examples.yourdictionary.com/metaphor-examples.html

Meaning of "it's like moist black velvet." (From The Most Dangerous Game)

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