caul

/kɔl/

/kɔl/

Other forms: cauls

A caul is a membrane or thin piece of skin that sometimes covers a newborn baby's head. The caul is part of the anmniotic sac that protects a fetus before birth.

Most mammals are enclosed within a protective membrane before they're born, and when part of this membrane is attached to a newborn, it's called a caul. Possibly because it's so rare for a baby to be born with this caul covering his or her head, it's been considered good luck since medieval times. The word once referred to a woman's close-fitting hat, from the French word cale, "cap," with a Latin root, calautica, "type of women's headdress."

Definitions of caul

1. noun

   the inner membrane of embryos in higher vertebrates (especially when covering the head at birth)
   synonyms: embryonic membrane, veil

   type of:

   fetal membrane

   any membrane that functions for the protection or nourishment or respiration or excretion of a developing fetus
2. noun

   part of the peritoneum attached to the stomach and to the colon and covering the intestines
   synonyms: gastrocolic omentum, greater omentum

   type of:

   omentum

   a fold of peritoneum supporting the viscera