lorica

American  

[luh-rahy-kuh, law-, loh-] / ləˈraɪ kə, lɔ-, loʊ- /

noun

plural

loricae

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

2. a cuirass or corselet, originally of leather.

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lorica British  

/ ˈlɒrɪˌkeɪt, lɒˈraɪkə /

noun

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

2. an ancient Roman cuirass of leather or metal

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Other Word Forms

• loricate adjective

Etymology

Origin of lorica

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

Example Sentences

Cum fossa atque lorica quattuorque castris circumdatos fames premeret, a duce orantes proelium, ut tamquam viros occideret, ubi non impetrabant, placuit eruptio.

From Helps to Latin Translation at Sight by Luce, Edmund

The tube of the Œcistes is called a "lorica," or carapace; but it has in truth no right whatever to the appellation.

From Marvels of Pond-life A Year's Microscopic Recreations by Slack, Henry J.

When they contract they draw back to the bottom of the lorica; when expanded they usually stretch out of the mouth opening.

From Marine Protozoa from Woods Hole Bulletin of the United States Fish Commission 21:415-468, 1901 by Calkins, Gary N. (Gary Nathan)

Think of this champion, who devotes his body for us—this dauntless gladiator going to do battle alone in the darkness, with no other armor than a light helmet of cotton, and a lorica of calico.

From Roundabout Papers by Thackeray, William Makepeace

Sometimes the mouth becomes twisted and the lorica is therefore bilateral.

From Marine Protozoa from Woods Hole Bulletin of the United States Fish Commission 21:415-468, 1901 by Calkins, Gary N. (Gary Nathan)