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Webster 1913 Edition


Carapace

Car′a-pace

(kăr′ȧ-pās)
,
Noun.
[F.]
(Zool.)
The thick shell or shield which covers the back of the tortoise, or turtle, the crab, and other crustaceous animals.

Definition 2024


carapace

carapace

English

Noun

carapace (plural carapaces)

  1. A hard protective covering of bone or chitin, especially one which covers the dorsal portion of an animal.
  2. in figurative use
    • 2010 January 8, Simon Jenkins, “The proliferation of nuclear panic is politics at its most ghoulish” in The Guardian, §: “Comment & Debate”, page 29, column 4
      This is all a massive failure of science to pierce the carapace of public ignorance.

Related terms

Translations

References

  1. carapace” in Douglas Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary (2001).

French

Etymology

From Portuguese carapaça (carapace, shell), of uncertain origin.

Noun

carapace f (plural carapaces)

  1. shell

Italian

Etymology

From French carapace (tortoise shell), from Portuguese carapaça (carapace, shell), of uncertain origin.

Noun

carapace m (plural carapaci)

  1. carapace