-dermacomb. form

Etymology: < post-classical Latin -derma (in e.g. epiderma epiderma n.; also used in scientific Latin in e.g. hypoderma hypoderma n.) or its etymon ancient Greek δέρμα skin (see derma n.). Compare derma n.Formations in sense 1 are found from at least the first half of the 19th cent. (e.g. hypoderma n.); compare the isolated earlier borrowing epiderma n. Compare -derm comb. form 2. Formations in sense 2 are found from the mid 19th cent. (e.g. xeroderma n. at xero- comb. form ), in early use frequently in compounds used by E. Wilson (e.g. syphiloderma n. at syphilo- comb. form , scrofuloderma n.). Compare also a small number of genus names in -derma denoting organisms with a specific kind of or relationship to skin (e.g. Echinoderma n., Mycoderma n.); these are consistently borrowed in full from scientific Latin formations. Compare -derm comb. form 1.