[mass noun](Biochemistry)a structural protein which forms the cuticles of insects and is hardened and darkened by a natural tanning process in which protein chains are cross-linked by quinone groups (生化)骨质,壳硬蛋白(充斥于昆虫表皮几丁质分子团空隙之间的一种蛋白质物质)
语源
1940s: from sclero- 'hardened', on the pattern of such words as keratin