chrysalis

Pronunciation key ( kris′’l-is )

chrys•a•lis

n. [pl. CHRYSALISES (-iz), CHRYSALIDES (kri-sal′ə-dēz′]

[L. chrysallis; Gr. chrysallis gold colored chrysalis of a butterfly < chrysos gold; of Semitic origin; cf. Phoenician-Hebrew hārūz, gold, Aramaic haraʽ, yellow].

1. Intermediate stage between larval stage and adult in which some insects form a pupa, case or cocoon.
2. The actual case or cocoon.
3. In the midst of a formative stage or period of development.

References

Webster's New World Dictionary of the American Language (College Edition) ©1955