Pl. lemmata. [ad. Gr. λέμμα, f. λέπ-ειν to peel.] † a. The husk or shell of a fruit. b. Embryol. (See quot.)
a. 1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., Lemma, in pharmacy, a term used to express the husk or shell of certain fruits, as the almond…; and in general, whatever is taken off in decortication. Thus the husks of oats, barley, &c. are the lemmata of those seeds.
b. 1880. F. P. Pascoe, Zool. Classif. (ed. 2), Gloss. 280. Lemma, the primary or outer layer of the germinal vesicle.
