lorica

[ luh-rahy-kuh, law-, loh- ]

/ ləˈraɪ kə, lɔ-, loʊ- /

Zoology. a hard protective case or sheath, as the protective coverings secreted by certain protists.

a cuirass or corselet, originally of leather.

Origin of lorica

1700–10; (def 1) < New Latin, special use of Latin lōrīca corselet (orig. of leather), akin to lōrum thong; (def 2) < Latin

Lorica, lo-rī′ka, n. in ancient Rome, a cuirass made of thongs—also Lor′ic (Browning).

Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M) |Various
The animal is attached, as in the closely allied genus Tintinnus, by a peduncle to the bottom of the lorica.

Marine Protozoa from Woods Hole |Gary N. Calkins
The lorica is swollen posteriorly, narrowest at the oral margin, bent on its axis and is supported on a short stalk.

Marine Protozoa from Woods Hole |Gary N. Calkins
Sometimes the mouth becomes twisted and the lorica is therefore bilateral.

Marine Protozoa from Woods Hole |Gary N. Calkins

The animals are similarly fastened to the lorica, sometimes directly, sometimes by means of a short stalk.

Marine Protozoa from Woods Hole |Gary N. Calkins

lorica

/ (lɒˈraɪkə) /

the hard outer covering of rotifers, ciliate protozoans, and similar organisms

an ancient Roman cuirass of leather or metal

loricate (ˈlɒrɪˌkeɪt) or loricated, adjective

C18: from New Latin, from Latin: leather cuirass; related to lōrum thong