Wordnet 3.0
NOUN (1)
1. 
 a hard protective sheath (as secreted by certain protoctists, for example); 
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Lorica \Lo*ri"ca\, n.; pl. Loric[ae]. [L., lit., a corselet of
   thongs, fr. lorum thong.]
   1. (Anc. Armor) A cuirass, originally of leather, afterward
      of plates of metal or horn sewed on linen or the like.
      [1913 Webster]
   2. (Chem.) Lute[1] for protecting vessels from the fire.
      [1913 Webster]
   3. (Zool.) The protective case or shell of an infusorian or
      rotifer.
      [1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
lorica
    n 1: a hard protective sheath (as secreted by certain
         protoctists, for example)