Originally: †a cell wall (obsolete). Now: specifically the wall of a unicellular organism, especially that of an alga of the division Cryptophyta, consisting of stiff proteinaceous plates.
Origin
Mid 19th century (in an earlier sense). From peri- + -plast. With specifically use in sense 2 compare German Periplast.
Definition of periplast in US English:
periplast
nounˈpɛrɪplast
Biology
Originally: †a cell wall (obsolete). Now: specifically the wall of a unicellular organism, especially that of an alga of the division Cryptophyta, consisting of stiff proteinaceous plates.
Origin
Mid 19th century (in an earlier sense). From peri- + -plast. With specifically use in sense 2 compare German Periplast.