Carapace

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈker.əˌpeɪs/, /ˈkæ.rəˌpeɪs/

Origin

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

Online Etymology Dictionary

Compare Catalan carabassa.

Full definition of carapace

Noun

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 4This is all a massive failure of science to pierce the carapace of public ignorance.

Related terms

• carapaced
• carapaceous
• carapacial