encrustation

[ en-kruh-stey-shuhn ]

noun

1. an encrusting or being encrusted.
2. a crust or coat of anything on the surface of a body; covering, coating, or scale.
3. the inlaying or addition of enriching materials on or to a surface or an object.
4. the enriching materials inlaid on or added to a surface or an object.

Word History and Origins

Origin of encrustation¹

First recorded in 1650–60 for incrustation, later for encrustation, encrust + -ation

Example Sentences

Mostly, Hynes called him O’Casey, but a few times she called him Sean, and the warmth of that familiarity melted away any sepia encrustation that has accumulated around his name.

From New York Times

On most of these canvases it’s like a thick encrustation of gunk.

From Washington Post

This encrustation can speed up corrosion and obscure a ship’s appearance over time, making it harder to analyze the degradation of the shipwreck.

From Scientific American

The dealer, Nancy Wiener, 66, whose mother had also been a well-known expert in the field, acknowledged Thursday that she had taken possession of items that showed possible signs of looting, such as dirt and debris encrustation, and presented them for sale with false statements of provenance.

From New York Times

But the fancy production worked like an encrustation on the music; I found you had to push through or even overlook the one to enjoy the other.

From Washington Post

Related Words

• blanket
• coat
• crust
• glaze
• layer
• membrane
• patina
• sheet
• skin
• varnish
• veneer