Word of the day: Carapace

Carapace

[KER-ə-pays]

Part of speech: noun

Origin: French, 19th century

1.The hard upper shell of a tortoise, crustacean, or arachnid.

2.Something regarded as a protective or defensive covering.

Examples of carapace in a sentence

"The trickiest part of eating a lobster is removing the meat from the carapace."

"She uses humor as a carapace to guard her more complex and private emotions."

About Carapace

“Carapace” comes directly to English from the French “carapace,” as well as the Spanish “carapacho,” which refers to the shell covering the back of a turtle.

Did you Know?

While “carapace” originally referred to tough outer shells on certain animals and insects, it also has a more modern symbolic use. As a metaphor, “carapace” describes a means of defense. For example, actor Hugh Jackman plays the character Wolverine with a carapace of aggressive hostility, but he has a soft spot for helping underdogs, and Jackman himself is known for his well-mannered gentleness.