Word Study
loricate
CIDE DICTIONARY
loricate, v. t. [L. loricatus, p. p. of loricare to clothe in mail, to cover with plastering, fr. lorica a leather cuirass, a plastering, fr. lorum thong.].
To cover with some protecting substance, as with lute{1}, a crust, coating, or plates. [1913 Webster]
Covered with a shell or exterior made of plates somewhat like a coat of mail, as in the armadillo. [1913 Webster]
loricate, n.
An animal covered with bony scales, as crocodiles among reptiles, and the pangolins among mammals. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
loricate, adj. & n. Zool.
--adj. having a defensive armour of bone, plates, scales, etc.
--n. an animal with this.
--adj. having a defensive armour of bone, plates, scales, etc.
--n. an animal with this.
Etymology
L loricatus f. lorica breastplate f. lorum strap
For further exploring for "loricate" in Webster Dictionary Online