Integument
/ɪnˈtɛɡ.jə.mənt/noun
An outer covering or protective layer of an organism or object.
Did you know?Integument shares its root with Latin tegere, the same ancient word-family behind words like protect and detect—literally ideas of covering, guarding, and uncovering.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*teg-
“to cover, protect”
Latin
Latin
tegere
“to cover, hide, shield”
Latin
Latin
integumentum
“a covering, wrapper, veil”
Middle English
English
integument
“a covering or wrapper”
Modern English
English
integument
“an outer covering or protective layer”