Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “chrysalis” come from?

Chrysalis comes from Latin chrysalis, from Ancient Greek χρυσαλλίς, derived from Ancient Greek χρυσός meaning gold, referring to the metallic sheen of the pupa case.

chrysalis (English): The pupa of a butterfly or moth, enclosed inside...

Definitions

  1. The pupa of a butterfly or moth, enclosed inside...

Ancestry of “chrysalis”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinchrysalis—
2Ancient Greekχρυσαλλίς—
3Ancient Greekχρυσόςgold; something dear or precious; a gold coin
4Ancient Greekχρυσάνθεμονgold-flower; immortelle; buttercup
5Ancient Greekἄνθεμονflower, rosette
Every word from Ancient Greek ἄνθεμον →