scute

Meanings

1. A horny, chitinous, or bony external plate or scale, as on the shell of a turtle, the skin of crocodiles, or the feet and legs of birds.
2. A proneural gene, often associated with achaete, that is required for the formation of many larval and adult sense organs
3. A small shield.
4. An old French gold coin.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin scutum (“shield”). Compare scutum, escudo, scudo, and écu.