chrysalises

Variant of chrysalis

noun pl. chrysalides or chrysalises

  1. the pupa of a butterfly, the form of the insect when between the larval and adult stages and in a case or cocoon
  2. the case or cocoon
  3. a stage of development when something or someone is still protected

Origin: L chrysallis < Gr, golden-colored chrysalis of a butterfly < chrysos, gold: of Sem orig., as in Akkadian ḫurāṣu, Heb hārūz, gold, Aram harā, yellow

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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