Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
coat-of-mail shell

coat-of-mail shell

9.9
A sea animal with eight overlapping hard plates that clings to rocks
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : quítón
  • The coat-of-mail shell protected the chiton from predators as it clung to the rocky shore.

Examples

  • Scientists collected several coat-of-mail shells during their marine survey of the region.

  • The coat-of-mail shell is remarkable for its flexible, armored appearance reminiscent of medieval armor.

  • Look at that shiny coat-of-mail shell over there!

  • The coat-of-mail shell is a fascinating creature.

  • During their underwater research, marine biologists observed the unique features of the coat-of-mail shell that help it survive in its environment.

  • The coat-of-mail shell can be found attached to rocks, using its tough plates for protection against waves and predators.

  • As I walked along the beach, I spotted a coat-of-mail shell and was captivated by its intricate design and natural armor.

Synonyms

chiton
vscoat-of-mail shell
  • Specialized
9.9

An animal that lives on rocks in the sea with a shell of eight hard plates

is the longer descriptive phrase rather than the short name
sea cradle
vscoat-of-mail shell
  • Specialized
9.9

A sea animal with a shell of eight hard plates that clings to rocks

is the neutral descriptive term instead of this alternative name
polyplacophore
vscoat-of-mail shell
  • Specialized
9.9

A sea animal with eight hard plates on its back that crawls on rocks

is the plain descriptive phrase rather than a technical class label

Surface Forms

coat-of-mail shell singular
coat-of-mail shells plural

Morphology

coat-of-mail + shell

The noun 'shell' gives a clear protective-object sense, and 'coat-of-mail' literally evokes chain armour, so a learner who knows 'coat' and the archaic sense of 'mail' (chain armour) could infer this is a shell that looks like overlapping armour plates. However, 'coat-of-mail' is an uncommon/archaic formulation and the specific zoological reference (chiton) may not be known, so the connection is only partially predictable for a B1 learner.

Etymology

The noun coat-of-mail shell comes from the animal's shell of overlapping plates that look like a soldier's coat of mail, or chain armor. So the name points to 'protection' because the plates act like armor to guard the animal.