exuviae

plural noun

ex·​u·​vi·​ae ig-ˈzü-vē-ˌē  -vē-ˌī 

: sloughed off natural animal coverings (such as the skins of snakes)

exuvial

ig-ˈzü-vē-əl 

adjective

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from exuere to take off, from ex- + -uere to put on; akin to Old Church Slavic obuti to put on (footwear)

First Known Use

1653, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

exuviae

noun plural

ex·​u·​vi·​ae ig-ˈzü-vē-ˌē  -vē-ˌī 

: sloughed-off natural coverings of animals (as the skins of snakes)