egg case

egg case
noun
1.
a. or egg capsule : a protective case enclosing eggs (as of certain insects and mollusks) : ootheca — see sea necklace
b. or egg sac : a pouch of spun silk in which many spiders carry their eggs
c. : a highly specialized outer envelope that encloses an egg and that is either soft and gelatinous (as in certain amphibians) or strong and horny with special adaptations for the escape of the young (as in skates) — see sea purse
2. : a container (as of cardboard) for marketing eggs

* * *

Entomol. ootheca.
[1840-50]

* * *

egg capsule, egg case or egg purse noun
A protective covering in which the eggs of some animals are enclosed
• • •
Main Entry:egg

* * *

egg case,
1. a membrane or covering around an egg.
2. = egg sac. (Cf.egg sac)

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • egg case — egg′ case n. ent ootheca • Etymology: 1840–50 …   From formal English to slang

  • Egg case (Chondrichthyes) — Egg case of a skate. An egg case or egg capsule, colloquially known as a mermaid s purse or devil s purse, is a casing that surrounds the fertilized eggs of some sharks, skates, and chimaeras. They are among the common objects which are washed up …   Wikipedia

  • egg-case — The case or covering of an egg or egg mass …   Dictionary of invertebrate zoology

  • egg case — noun Date: 1847 a protective case enclosing eggs ; ootheca called also egg capsule …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • egg case — the keratinous egg shell of Myxini, Elasmobranchii and Holocephali containing the developing embryo …   Dictionary of ichthyology

  • egg-case — the keratinous egg shell of Myxini, Elasmobranchii and Holocephali containing the developing embryo …   Dictionary of ichthyology

  • egg case — noun a) A protective capsule that contains the eggs of some insects and molluscs b) The leathery egg of certain marine animals such as sharks and skate …   Wiktionary

  • egg case — Entomol. ootheca. [1840 50] * * * …   Universalium

  • egg-capsule — egg case …   Dictionary of ichthyology

  • Egg — ([e^]g), n. [OE., fr. Icel. egg; akin to AS. [ae]g (whence OE. ey), Sw. [ a]gg, Dan. [ae]g, G. & D. ei, and prob. to OSlav. aje, jaje, L. ovum, Gr. w,o n, Ir. ugh, Gael. ubh, and perh. to L. avis bird. Cf. {Oval}.] 1. (Popularly) The oval or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”