Lamella
/ləˈmɛlə/noun
A thin plate, layer, or membrane-like structure, especially in anatomy, biology, or materials science.
Did you know?In ancient Latin, lamella could describe a thin sheet of metal, while modern biology uses the word for delicate layered structures such as gill plates and bone layers.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Latin
Latin
lamella
“A thin plate or small sheet; literally a diminutive form meaning “little thin plate.””
Classical Latin
Latin
lamina
“A thin plate, sheet, layer, or leaf; the source word from which lamella was formed.”
Late Latin
Latin
lamella
“A thin metal plate or sheet, retaining the diminutive sense of lamina.”
17th Century
New Latin
lamella
“A thin plate or layer used in scientific and anatomical description.”
18th Century
English
lamella
“A thin plate-like anatomical or structural part.”
Modern English
English
lamella
“A thin layer or plate, including layered structures in bone, fungi, gills, crystals, and engineered materials.”