From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishchrysalischrys‧a‧lis /ˈkrɪsəlɪs/ noun [countable] HBIa moth or butterfly at the stage of development when it has a hard outer shell and is changing into its adult form
Examples from the Corpus
chrysalis• Butterflies: During winter, caterpillars form a chrysalis.• His armour has become a bandage as stiff as the casing of a chrysalis.• Wexford was reminded of a butterfly, fresh and lusty, that has escaped from a dried chrysalis.• Chrysalid came from chrysalis, a protective covering, a sheltered state or stage of being or growth.• The butterfly of the gospel has broken out of its chrysalis at Jerusalem and has flown to the centre of the civilised world.• Over the years, however, the chrysalis has developed a few harmless transparencies.• Within the chrysalis the insect undergoes complete metamorphosis.• The chrysalis stays fixed to the resting place.Origin chrysalis (1600-1700) Latin chrysallis “gold-colored chrysalis of some butterflies”, from Greek, from chrysos “gold” 