protective coloring

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Protective \Pro*tect"ive\, a. [Cf. F. protectif.]
   Affording protection; sheltering; defensive. " The favor of a
   protective Providence." --Feltham.
   [1913 Webster]

   {Protective coloring} (Zool.), coloring which serves for the
      concealment and preservation of a living organism. Cf.
      {Mimicry}. --Wallace.

   {Protective tariff} (Polit. Econ.), a tariff designed to
      secure protection (see {Protection}, 4.), as distinguished
      from a tariff designed to raise revenue. See {Tariff}, and
      {Protection}, 4.
      [1913 Webster]