Pupa

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈpjuːpə/

Definitions

1. The intermediate stage in insect metamorphosis between larva and adult, during which the organism undergoes transformation while enclosed in a protective case
2. A stage of insect development where a transformed creature rests in a protective casing before emerging as an adult
3. The dormant intermediate form of an insect undergoing complete metamorphosis, enclosed within a hardened or silken covering

Etymology: The word "pupa" comes from Latin, where it meant "girl" or "doll," and its link to insects is a metaphor. A pupa is a young insect that looks like a doll wrapped in a swaddling cloth, which is how the Romans and later naturalists pictured the motionless, enclosed stage between larva and adult. The Latin "pupa" was a feminine noun for a girl or a doll, and the same root gave English "puppet" and "puppy," both of which sit close to it in meaning. The insect sense is a special use of the Latin word, adopted into English to name the resting stage of development. Entomologists needed a term for the stage when a larva stops feeding and transforms, and the image of a child tightly wrapped in cloth made the borrowing feel natural. The word is used in the same way in many languages, so its doll-like image has become a standard piece of scientific vocabulary.

Synonyms: larva, caterpillar, chrysalis, metamorphosis, transform