Friday, May 24, 2013

Cuticle

cu·ti·cle

noun \ˈkyüt-i-kəl\
 
1: an outer covering layer: as
a: an external envelope (as of an insect) secreted usually by epidermal cells
b: the outermost layer of animal integument composed of epidermis
c: a thin continuous fatty or waxy film on the external surface of many higher plants that consists chiefly of cutin
d: the outermost membranous layer of a hair consisting of overlapping scales of epithelial cells
 
2: dead or horny epidermis
 
 
 
 
What a phenomenal waste of a good word.  It should have been used to define babies or puppies or small rats. I should make my own dictionary.