exuviae noun pl. [ɪg'zju:vɪi:, ɛg-] M17.
[Latin = clothing stripped off, skins of animals, spoils, from exuere divest oneself of.]
Cast skins, shells, or other shed outer parts of animals, whether recent or fossil; spec. (Zoology) sloughed skins; fig. remnants, remains.

■ exuvial noun & adjective (a) noun in pl., spoils; (b) adjective pertaining to or of the nature of exuviae: M17.

■ exuviate verb trans. & intrans. shed (as) exuviae, moult M19.

■ exuvi'ation noun M19.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲