1. a quiescent insect pupa, especially of a butterfly or moth: "the transformation from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis and, finally, adult"
▪ the hard outer case enclosing a chrysalis: "the splitting of the chrysalis and the slow unfolding of the wings"
▪ a transitional state:"she emerged from the chrysalis of self-conscious adolescence"
Word Originearly 17th century: from Latin chrysal(l)is, chrysal(l)id-, from Greek khrusallis, from khrusos ‘gold’ (because of the gold color or metallic sheen of some pupae).
