huh, I always knew is as 'pre-skin' or 'before-skin'.

Not according to mine ...

The "dermis" part of the word was technically one of the first clues to Mata Nui sleeping beneath the island. This is probably what the makers of the MNOLG were intending when protodermis appeared as a layer of semi-organic rock beneath Onu Koro that could not be broken. This was decanonized later, but it was probably a hint from back before BIONICLE's success when LEGO was prepared to put the "reveal" of the Great Spirit at the end of the first year.

Oh, I just realised I misread my dictionary! :s It actually means "primitive skin"!

I edited the first post.