scale

One of the many small hard dermal or epidermal structures that characteristically form the external covering of fishes and reptiles and certain mammals, such as pangolins.

A similar part in other animals, such as one of the thin flat overlapping structures that cover the wings of butterflies and moths.

A small, thin, often flattened plant structure, such as one of the modified leaves that cover a tree bud or one of the structures that contain the reproductive organs on the cones of a conifer.

A dry thin flake of epidermis shed from the skin.

A skin lesion or lesions marked by such flakes.

A scale insect.

A plant disease or infestation caused by scale insects.