define exoskeleton
An exoskeleton (from Greek Î­Î¾Ï, Ã©xÅ outer and ÏÎºÎµÎ»ÎµÏÏÏ, skeletos skeleton[1]) is the external skeleton that supports and protects an animal's body, in contrast to the internal skeleton (endoskeleton) of, for example, a human. In usage, some of the larger kinds of exoskeletons are known as shells.