scute

Short definition from Wiktionary

Noun

1. 1
   A horny, chitinous, or bony external plate or scale, as on the shell of a turtle or the skin of crocodiles.
2. 2
   A proneural gene, often associated with achaete, that is required for the formation of many larval and adult sense organs
3. 3
   A small shield.
4. 4
   An old French gold coin.