ecdysis

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noun

The stripping off of an outer layer of skin by snakes and certain other animals; typically in accommodation to growth or wear-and-tear.

Similar
moltmoltingmoultmoulting
OriginAncient Greek ἔκδυσις →
Scrabble 13
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Meanings

nounecdysis (countable and uncountable, plural ecdyses or ecdysises)

plural ecdyses · plural ecdysises

  1. countableuncountableThe stripping off of an outer layer of skin by snakes and certain other animals; typically in accommodation to growth or wear-and-tear.
  2. countableuncountableThe shedding of an exoskeleton, as in insects and crustaceans.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounperiodic shedding of the cuticle in arthropods or the outer skin in reptiles

Similar
moltmoltingmoultmoulting
Broader
sheddingsloughing
Also see
moltingmoultmoulting

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekἔκδυσις“stripping”
  2. Englishecdysis

From Ancient Greek ἔκδυσις (ékdusis, “stripping”), from ἐκδύω (ekdúō, “I take off”), from ἐκ (ek, “out”) + δύω (dúō, “I get in”).

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

ecdysis. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ecdysis

MLA

“ecdysis.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ecdysis. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “ecdysis,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ecdysis.

Source: ecdysis on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.