pericarp

Etymology

From French péricarpe, from New Latin pericarpium, from Ancient Greek περικάρπιον (perikárpion, “pod, husk, shell”), from περί (perí, “around”) + καρπός (karpós, “fruit”). Alternatively, peri- +‎ -carp.

Pronunciation

• Hyphenation: pe‧ri‧carp
• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈpɛɹɪˌkɑːp/

Noun

pericarp (plural pericarps)

1. (botany) The outermost layer, or skin, of a ripe fruit or ovary.
2. (rare, figuratively) The outer layer of any thing.
   • 1974, Guy Davenport, Tatlin!:

     He learned, afternoon after afternoon, how to edge her into delicious frenzies, how to tremble the clitoris, pericarp, and tip.

Anagrams

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