Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun A bone or ossicle developed in the skin of an animal. Typical examples are the bony plates of crocodiles and the ossicles of the great extinct sloth, the Grypotherium.
 
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun anatomy  A 
bony deposit in thedermal layers of theskin  
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
Support
				Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word osteoderm.
Examples
- 
								
Pakasuchus's body was not as heavily protected with osteoderm (bone deposits in scales) as modern and ancient crocodiles.
About.com Biology 2010
 
Comments
Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.