Crustaceous
/krʌˈsteɪʃəs/noun
Relating to or resembling a crust or hard shell, especially that of a crustacean.
Did you know?The scientific group name Crustacea was built from the same Latin root, crustaceus, meaning “having a hard shell.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*krus-
“Hard outer surface or crust; a reconstructed root associated with hard, brittle material”
Classical Latin
Latin
crusta
“Outer shell, rind, crust, or hard covering”
Classical Latin
Latin
crustaceus
“Crusty, shell-like, or having a hard covering”
18th Century
New Latin
Crustacea
“The taxonomic group of hard-shelled animals, including crabs, lobsters, and shrimps”
Modern English
English
crustaceous
“Relating to or resembling a crust or hard shell”