pellicle
noun
pel·li·cle ˈpe-li-kəl 
: a thin skin or film: such as
a
: an outer membrane of some protozoans (such as euglenoids or paramecia)
b
: a film that reflects a part of the light falling upon it and transmits the rest and that is used for dividing a beam of light (as in a photographic device)
Word History
Etymology
Middle French pellicule, from Medieval Latin pellicula, from Latin, diminutive of pellis
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
pellicle
noun
pel·li·cle ˈpel-i-kəl
: a thin skin or film: as
a
: an outer membrane of some protozoans (as euglenoids or paramecia)
b
: a bacterial growth in the form of a sheet on the surface of a liquid medium
c
: a thin layer of salivary glycoproteins coating the surface of the teeth