| n. pl.   chrys·a·lis·es or   chry·sal·i·des (krĭ-sălĭ-dēz′)  1.  a.  A pupa, especially of a butterfly. b.  The hardened case of a pupa. 2.  A protected stage of development. [Latin chrȳsallis, from Greek khrūsallis, khrūsallid-, gold-colored pupa of a butterfly, from khrūsos, gold; see  CHRYSO-.]  (click for a larger image)chrysalis swallowtail chrysalis Papilio machaon | 
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