guardshell
nounUK /ˈɡɑːdʃel/
US /ˈɡɑːrdʃel/
A guardshell is a hard shell that keeps something safe.
The little crab hid inside its guardshell when the wave came.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A protective outer layer on a seed or nut that keeps the inside safe.
The guardshell of the acorn cracked open in the sun.
3. A defensive barrier or casing around a machine or device.
The robot's guardshell kept its wires dry in the rain.
4. A person or thing that acts as a protective cover for others.
The old wall served as a guardshell for the village.