pellicle

noun

pel·​li·​cle ˈpe-li-kəl 

: a thin skin or film: such as

a

: an outer membrane of some protozoans (such as euglenoids or paramecia)

b

: a film that reflects a part of the light falling upon it and transmits the rest and that is used for dividing a beam of light (as in a photographic device)

Word History

Etymology

Middle French pellicule, from Medieval Latin pellicula, from Latin, diminutive of pellis

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

pellicle

noun

pel·​li·​cle ˈpel-i-kəl 

: a thin skin, film, or membrane (as of a paramecium)

Medical Definition

pellicle

noun

pel·​li·​cle ˈpel-i-kəl 

: a thin skin or film: as

a

: an outer membrane of some protozoans (as euglenoids or paramecia)

b

: a bacterial growth in the form of a sheet on the surface of a liquid medium

c

: a thin layer of salivary glycoproteins coating the surface of the teeth