any of the numerous small overlapping plates that cover and protect the skin of fish, reptiles, etc
a small thin plate resembling this, esp a naturally occurring one, e.g. in series on the wing of a moth or butterfly
a dry flake of dead skin, esp one caused by disease
a white deposit of lime formed on the inside of a kettle, iron, hot water pipe, etc caused by the evaporation or constant passage of hard water
a deposit of tartar on teeth
a black scaly coating of oxide that forms on the surface of iron when heated and that must be removed before further processing can take place
a similar coating that forms on other metals when heated
= scale leaf
= scale insect
scaled adj
scaleless adj
[Middle English from French escale, of Germanic origin]