carapace

Meaning

1. A hard protective covering of bone or chitin, especially one which covers the dorsal portion of an animal.
2. (figuratively) That which protects.

Synonyms

shell

🐚

hull

tortoise-shell

shield

🛡️

cuticle

crust

lid

scale

scales

spread

top

🔝

tortoiseshell

upper shell

body armor

suit of armor

weighing scale

shell of a tortoise

body armour

spinal brace

armor

dorsal shield

armour

balance

cover

covering

libra

♎

Translations

carapace

🐚

schaal

🐚

schild

🛡️

caparazón

rugschild

Schild

bascule

Panzer

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈkɛɹ.əˌpeɪs/

Etymology

Cognate with Catalan: carabassa

Cognate with Ancient Greek: κάραβος

Cognate with Latin: scarabaeus

Cognate with Spanish: galápago

In summary

Borrowed from French carapace (“tortoise shell”), from Spanish carapacho, of unknown origin, but likely from an extinct Ibero-Mediterranean substrate language.
Compare Catalan carabassa, Ancient Greek κάραβος (kárabos, “beetle”), Latin scarabaeus (the source of scarab); also Spanish galápago (“kind of turtle”). Doublet of calipash.