— cuticular /kyooh tik"yeuh leuhr/ , adj.
/kyooh"ti keuhl/ , n.
1. the nonliving epidermis that surrounds the edges of the fingernail or toenail.
2. the epidermis.
3. a superficial integument, membrane, or the like.
4. Also called cuticula . Zool. the outer, noncellular layer of the arthropod integument, composed of a mixture of chitin and protein and commonly containing other hardening substances as well.
5. Bot. a very thin hyaline film covering the surface of plants, derived from the outer surfaces of the epidermal cells.
[ 1605-15; cuticula the skin, equiv. to cuti ( s ) skin, CUTIS + -cula -CLE 1 ]