Keratose

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A disorder involving the abnormal proliferation of keratin, leading to thickened skin and rough textures
2. A skin condition that results from excessive keratin formation, which causes the outer layer to become hard and scaly
3. A medical condition characterized by the excessive buildup of keratin in the skin, resulting in an abnormal thickening and rough surface texture

Etymology: Keratose is built from two Greek elements: "keras," meaning horn, and the suffix "-ose," which in medical and chemical terms often marks a substance or a condition. The same root gave us "keratin," the tough fibrous protein that makes up hair, nails and horn, so the name of this skin condition describes the horn-like hardening itself. The word is closely related to "keratosis," which uses the Greek suffix "-osis" for an abnormal condition or growth. Terms like these are modern scientific coinages built from classical roots, not words that ancient Greek physicians used for skin disorders. The Greek parts simply describe what the tissue does: it grows thick and hard, like horn.