scute

noun4

1. •
   A horny, chitinous, or bony external plate or scale, as on the shell of a turtle, the skin of crocodiles, or the feet and legs of birds.

   • Then one afternoon, as he's stripping the scutes and hide from a shortnose sturgeon, an idea hits him. — 1982
2. •
   A proneural gene, often associated with achaete, that is required for the formation of many larval and adult sense organs
3. •
   (historical) An old French gold coin.
4. •
   (no longer used) A small shield.

   • But yet they ouer shote vs Wyth crownes and wyth scutus; With scutis and crownes of gold I drede we are bought and solde; […] — 1530