Squamous
/ˈskweɪ.məs/noun
Covered with or made of scales; scale-like.
Did you know?Squamous comes from Latin squāmōsus, from squāma meaning “scale,” a root that also gave English words tied to scraping, peeling, and scaly coverings.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*skey-
“To cut, split, or separate; a root associated with slicing and stripping.”
Latin
Latin
squāma
“A scale, especially of fish, snakes, or armor-like covering.”
Late Latin
Latin
squāmōsus
“Full of scales; scaly.”
Middle English
English
squamous
“Scaly or covered with scales.”
Modern English
English
squamous
“Scale-like; covered with scales, especially in anatomy.”
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