Cassises

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The outer, protective covering of certain fruits
2. The plural form of a hard outer shell that encases a seed or pod
3. A section of a structure that serves to contain or support its components in a botanical context

Etymology: "Cassises" is the plural of "cassis," a noun for the outer, protective covering of certain fruits. The singular was borrowed from French, where "cassis" means "black currant," and it likely traces back through Latin "cassia," a word for a fragrant bark, to Hebrew "qetzi'ah," the name of a plant related to cinnamon. The Hebrew term passed into Greek and Latin before reaching French, so a word that now names a fruit's skin carries the name of an aromatic spice through several languages.

Synonyms: blackcurrants, currants