scute

[ skyoot ]

noun

, Zoology.

1. a dermal bony plate, as on an armadillo, or a large horny plate, as on a turtle.
2. a large scale.

scute

/ skjuːt /

noun

1. zoology a horny or chitinous plate that makes up part of the exoskeleton in armadillos, turtles, fishes, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of scute¹

1350–1400 for earlier sense “French coin, écu ( def ) ”; 1840–50 for current senses; Middle English < Latin scūtum “shield”

Word History and Origins

Origin of scute¹

C14 (the name of a French coin; C19 in zoological sense): from Latin scūtum shield

Example Sentences

Scutig′erous, provided with a scute or scuta; Scū′tiped, having the shanks scaly, of birds.

From Project Gutenberg

Tenth marginal scute: Length of anterior margin, 17 (L), 17.

From Project Gutenberg

Third vertebral scute: Length of anterior margin, 33; greatest width, 42; length at midline, 40 (estimated).

From Project Gutenberg

The width of the first vertebral scute, anteriorly and posteriorly, is less than the width of the second vertebral scute.

From Project Gutenberg

Eleventh marginal scute: Length of posterior margin, 14 (L).

From Project Gutenberg