Cellulocutaneous

/ˌsɛljuːloʊkjuːˈteɪniəs/ adjective

Definition

Relating to or affecting both cellulose and skin tissue.

Etymology

From cellulo- (relating to cellulose, from cellula meaning small cell) + cutaneous (from Latin cutis meaning skin). Compound formed in medical terminology to describe conditions involving both materials.

Kelly Says

This word combines materials from totally different origins—cellulose is plant stuff that makes wood stiff, while skin is animal tissue—showing how medical language invented terms to describe surprising intersections between nature's materials.

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