exoskeleton n.

word-forming element in words of Greek origin meaning "outer, outside, outer part," used from mid-19c. in scientific words (such as exoskeleton), from Greek exō (adv.) "outside," related to ex (prep.) "out of" (see ex-).

"the dry bones of a body taken together," 1570s, from Modern Latin sceleton "bones, bony framework of the body," from Greek skeleton soma "dried-up body, mummy, skeleton," from neuter of skeletos "dried-up" (also, as a noun, "dried body, mummy"), from skellein "dry up, make dry, parch" (from PIE root *skele- "to parch, wither;" see sclero-).

Skelton was an early variant form. The noun use of Greek skeletos passed into Late Latin (sceletus), hence French squelette and rare English skelet (1560s), Spanish esqueleto, Italian scheletro.

The sense of "lean, emaciated person" is by 1620s. The meaning "bare or mere outline, rough draft" is recorded by c. 1600; that of "supporting framework" of anything is by 1650s, hence skeleton key (by 1810). The meaning "of the minimum size for getting work done" is by 1778, originally military; hence skeleton crew (1891), Phrase skeleton in the closet "source of secret shame to a person or family" is from 1812 (the image is perhaps from the Bluebeard fable).