The term Bony Plate is composed of two words, SCALE and Scute. SCALE is a five-letter word meaning a thin, flat plate or layer, usually one of several that overlap like roof tiles. Scute is also a five-letter word meaning a hard, bony plate or SCALE on the skin of some animals, such as reptiles and fish. Together, these two words form the term Bony Plate, which is a hard, bony layer of scales found on the skin of some animals.