16th century, at first only in reference to the Order of the Golden Fleece, from Middle Dutch vlies, from Proto-West Germanic *fleus. The later freer use for “fleece” was reinforced by inherited Low German forms, whereas the rare Middle High German vlius had no continuation. The spelling with V- follows the Dutch, but was supported by an unetymological association with Latin vellus. Doublet of Fleece, a later borrowing from English.