[ 'krɪs(ə)lɪs ]
■ noun ( plural ~es ) a dormant insect pupa, especially of a butterfly or moth.
↘the hard outer case enclosing a ~.
Origin
C17: from L. chrysal(l)is , chrysal(l)id- , from Gk khrusallis , from khrusos 'gold' (because of the metallic sheen of some pupae).