pericarp

English

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

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

Noun

pericarp (plural pericarps)

1. (botany) The outermost layer, or skin, of a ripe fruit or ovary.
   • 1880, The Farmer's Magazine, page 208:

     When, as in the cherry, the different layers of the pericarp are well-defined and largely developed, they received distinctive names ; the outer skin is the epicarp (epi, upon, carpon, a fruit), the middle fleshy part is the mesocarp (mesos, middle) ; and the innermost hard shell is the endocarp (endos, within) ; in other words the pericarp is made up of epicarp, mesocarp, and endocarp. […] In all normal fruits these three layers of the pericarp are present […] .

   • 1928, Journal of Agricultural Research, page 582:

     The pericarp of sorghums of the factorial titution BBSSrr, BBSsrr, BbsSrr, and BbSsrr may possess some t degree of coloration even though the pericarp color factor R is nt.

   • 1992 August 20, Jim C. Forbes, James C. Forbes, Drennan Watson, Plants in Agriculture, Cambridge University Press, →ISBN, page 180:

     Many fruits show differentiation of the pericarp into layers – the plum, for example, has a thin outer pericarp forming the skin, a succulent middle pericarp forming the flesh and a stony inner pericarp surrounding the single seed.

   • 2009, Stanley P. Cauvain, Linda S. Young, The ICC Handbook of Cereals, Flour, Dough & Product Testing: Methods and Applications, DEStech Publications, Inc, →ISBN, page 207:

     One important difference is the pericarp of sorghum is more bran-like and contains starch granules in the cells. However, as with maize, the sorghum pericarp is often referred to as a “hull” and is generally removed during processing.

2. (rare, figurative) The outer layer of anything.
   • 1974, Guy Davenport, Tatlin!:

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

Related terms

• endocarp
• exocarp
• mesocarp

Translations

Anagrams

• crappier

Dutch

Etymology

Ultimately from Latin pericarpium, from Ancient Greek περικάρπιον (perikárpion).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌpeː.riˈkɑrp/,
• Hyphenation: pe‧ri‧carp
• Rhymes: -ɑrp

Noun

pericarp n (uncountable)

1. pericarp

Romanian

Etymology

Borrowed from French péricarpe.

Noun

pericarp n (plural pericarpe)

1. pericarp

Declension