fish scale
Silvery skin tile
Fish scale refers to the small, flat, overlapping plates that cover the skin of most fish, providing protection and reducing friction in water.
The plural fish scales appears more often, since they come in multitudes.
Scraping off fish scales is a common step in preparing whole fish for cooking.
The pattern of fish scales—overlapping semicircles—names a decorative motif in textiles, tiles, and architecture.
Tremulous, wavering light
- sheenSoft surface luster
- glintBrief bright reflection
- gleamFaint reflected light
- lusterSoft reflected light
pearlescent · nacreous · opalescent · prismatic · holographic · glimmer · sparkle · refraction
Guarding against harm
- overlappingCovering part of another
- dermalOf the skin
- cycloidCurve from rolling wheel
- keeledOverturned or fainted
imbricated · mail · chainmail · lamellar · plated · tessellated · interlocking · flexible
shimmer
Tremulous, wavering light
luster · pearlescent · nacreous · opalescent · prismatic · holographic · glimmer · sparkle · refraction · translucent
protection
Guarding against harm
- overlappingCovering part of another
- dermalOf the skin
- cycloidCurve from rolling wheel
keeled · imbricated · mail · chainmail · lamellar · plated · tessellated · interlocking · flexible · streamlined
- scalesweight, measure, balance, beam balance, pan balance
- decorative patternschevrons, paisley, crosshatch, chevron, floral
- fossilsdinosaur bones, ammonite, amber, ammonites, fossils
- protective structuresexoskeleton, carapace, shell, cuticle, elytra
- tilingherringbone, chevron, basketweave, subway, hexagon
- tiling shapeshexagon, triangle, square, rhombus, parallelogram