lorica

[ luh-rahy-kuh, law-, loh- ]

/ ləˈraɪ kə, lɔ-, loʊ- /

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noun, plural lo·ri·cae

[luh-rahy-see, -kee, law-, loh-]. /ləˈraɪ si, -ki, lɔ-, loʊ-/.

Zoology. a hard protective case or sheath, as the protective coverings secreted by certain protists.

a cuirass or corselet, originally of leather.

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Origin of lorica

1700–10; (def. 1) <New Latin, special use of Latin lōrīca corselet (originally of leather), akin to lōrum thong; (def. 2) <Latin

Words nearby lorica

Lorestan, Loretta, Loretteville, lorgnette, lorgnon, lorica, loricate, Lorient, lorikeet, lorimer, Lorin

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use lorica in a sentence

Neque is telorum ictu perforari poterat, durissima squamarum lorica omnia tela facile repellente.
Selections from Viri Romae|Charles Franois L'Homond
Induitur lorica incomparabili, quæ maculis duplicibus intexta, nullius lanceæ ictibus transforabilis haberetur.
The History of Chivalry, Volume I (of 2)|Charles Mills
The body is often provided with not-living external formations “stalk” and “theca” (or “lorica”).
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 14, Slice 5|Various
Medium-sized ciliates, inclosed in a chitinous lorica with embedded sand crystals.
Marine Protozoa from Woods Hole|Gary N. Calkins

The animal is attached, as in the closely allied genus Tintinnus, by a peduncle to the bottom of the lorica.
Marine Protozoa from Woods Hole|Gary N. Calkins

British Dictionary definitions for lorica

lorica

/ (lɒˈraɪkə) /

noun plural -cae (-siː, -kiː)

the hard outer covering of rotifers, ciliate protozoans, and similar organisms

an ancient Roman cuirass of leather or metal

Derived forms of lorica

loricate (ˈlɒrɪˌkeɪt) or loricated, adjective

Word Origin for lorica

C18: from New Latin, from Latin: leather cuirass; related to lōrum thong

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012