A crust or shell-like covering; in anatomy and zoology, a hard external layer or surface.
From Latin crusta meaning 'crust, shell, or hard covering.' Used directly in scientific Latin terminology, especially in anatomy and zoology for describing hard outer layers.
Scientists borrowed crusta directly from Latin because it was already perfectly precise—they use it for turtle shells, crusts of bread, and the hardened outer layer of skin or lichen, showing how one Latin word covers many hard surfaces.
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