testa

American  

[tes-tuh] / ˈtɛs tə /

noun

Botany.

plural

testae

1. the outer, usually hard, integument of a seed.

---

testa British  

/ ˈtɛstə /

noun

1. a hard protective outer layer of the seeds of flowering plants; seed coat

---

testa Scientific  

/ tĕs′tə /

plural

testae

1. See seed coat

---

Etymology

Origin of testa

First recorded in 1790–1800; from New Latin, Latin; test ²

Example Sentences

The American restaurant’s chef de cuisine is pushing an envelope or two as well, using testa, or head cheese, as a filling for a corn dog and radically rethinking such classic preparations as paella.

From Washington Post

The testa makes no effort to disguise its origins as a pig’s head.

From Los Angeles Times

It included Tuscan prosciutto and two fine salamis from Portland’s Olympic Provisions, but the highlights were made in-house: delicate mortadella and lamb testa, a deliciously gamy head cheese.

From Seattle Times

Seeds roundish, with a smooth and shining crustaceous testa and copious albumen.

From Project Gutenberg

The cells of the testa are often coloured, and have projections and appendages of various kinds.

From Project Gutenberg