The character 鳞 is a pictophonetic compound where the radical 鱼 (fish) denotes its semantic category related to scales, and 粦 provides its phonetic sound. 甲 is a pictograph derived from an ancient representation of protective armor or shell. Together in the word 鳞甲, they form a compound where both characters contribute directly to the meaning, referring specifically to the scale-like armor or bony plates covering certain animals.