Origin:
ModL < Gr a covering, sheath < IE *welutrom < base *wel-, to roll > walk
See elytron in American Heritage Dictionary 4
nounpl.el·y·tra(-trə)
Either of the leathery or chitinous forewings of a beetle or a related insect, serving to encase the thin, membranous hind wings used in flight. Also called wing case.
Origin:
Origin: New Latin
Origin: , from Greek elutron, sheath; see wel-2 in Indo-European roots