testa

[ tes-tuh ]

noun

, Botany.

, plural tes·tae [tes, -tee].

1. the outer, usually hard, integument of a seed. Compare tegmen ( def 2 ).

testa

/ ˈtɛstə /

noun

1. a hard protective outer layer of the seeds of flowering plants; seed coat

testa

/ tĕs′tə /

, Plural testae tĕs′tē′

1. See seed coat

Word History and Origins

Origin of testa¹

First recorded in 1790–1800; from New Latin, Latin; test ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of testa¹

C18: from Latin: shell; see test ²

Example Sentences

The American restaurant’s chef de cuisine is pushing an envelope or two as well, using testa, or head cheese, as a filling for a corn dog and radically rethinking such classic preparations as paella.

From Washington Post

The testa makes no effort to disguise its origins as a pig’s head.

From Los Angeles Times

It included Tuscan prosciutto and two fine salamis from Portland’s Olympic Provisions, but the highlights were made in-house: delicate mortadella and lamb testa, a deliciously gamy head cheese.

From Seattle Times

Seeds roundish, with a smooth and shining crustaceous testa and copious albumen.

From Project Gutenberg

And then the Parmesan, "I will put him to sleep and bear him to the capo in testa in our name!"

From Project Gutenberg