CHRYSALIS

noun (plural chrysalides or ~es) Etymology: Latin chrysallid-, chrysallis gold-colored pupa of butterflies, from Greek, from chrysos gold, of Semitic origin; akin to Hebrew ḥārūṣ gold Date: 1601 1. a pupa of a butterfly, the enclosing case or covering of a pupa, a protecting covering ; a sheltered state or stage of being or growth