[epi.der.mis] n [LL, fr. Gk, fr. epi- + derma skin--more at derm-] (1626) 1 a: the outer epithelial layer of the external integument of the animal body that is derived from the embryonic epiblast; specif: the outer nonsensitive and nonvascular layer of the skin of a vertebrate that overlies the dermis b: any of various animal integuments
2: a thin surface layer of tissue in higher plants formed by growth of a primary meristem