Capsid: The protein coat of a virus. The term capsid came in 1960 from the French capside, from the Latin capsa, case. See also: Nucleocapsid.
n. The protein shell that surrounds a virus particle. [From Latin capsa , box.]
capsid /cap·sid/ (kap´sid) the shell of protein that protects the nucleic acid of a virus; it is composed of structural units, or capsomers. cap·sid (k p s d)
Encyclopedia information on Capsid ... Capsid. The capsid is the outer shell of the virus, and consists of monomeric subunits of protein.
Definition and other additional information on Capsid from Biology-Online.org dictionary.
noun the coiled or polyhedral structure, composed of proteins, that encloses the nucleic acid of a virus. Also called protein coat. Origin: 1960–65; < French ...