Testa

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Test \Test\, Testa \Tes"ta\, n.; pl. E. {Tests}, L. {Testae}.
     [L. testa a piece of burned clay, a broken piece of
     earthenware, a shell. See {Test} a cupel.]
     1. (Zool.) The external hard or firm covering of many
        invertebrate animals.
        [1913 Webster]


  
     Note: The test of crustaceans and insects is composed largely
           of chitin; in mollusks it is composed chiefly of
           calcium carbonate, and is called the shell.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Bot.) The outer integument of a seed; the episperm, or
        spermoderm.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  testa
       n : protective outer layer of seeds of flowering plants [syn: {episperm},
            {seed coat}]
       [also: {testae} (pl)]