1. skin at base of nails: an edge of hard skin at the base of a fingernail or toenail
2. anatomy Same as epidermis (sense 1)
3. anatomy dead epidermis: dead or hardened epidermis
4. zoology hard covering of invertebrates: a hardened noncellular layer secreted by and covering the epidermis in many invertebrates
5. botany protective plant layer: the thin outermost noncellular layer covering the parts of plants that are above the ground and helping to prevent water loss
[15th century. < Latin cuticula "little skin" <cutis "skin"]
