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elytron

noun

  1. The hard exoskeletal layer which covers the wings of beetles
L1234235 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ˈɛlɪtɹɒn/

noun

Etymology: Etymology tree Ancient Greek εἰλύω (eilúō) Proto-Indo-European *-tḗr Proto-Indo-European *-trom Proto-Hellenic *-tron Ancient Greek -τρον (-tron) Ancient Greek ἔλυτρον (élutron)lbor. English elytron Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek ἔλυτρον (élutron, “sheath”).

  1. A sheath or outer covering, especially around the spinal cord or over the hindwings of certain insects.

    In a corner, the Darkling Beetle rustles in its Cage, its Elytra the same unforgiving white as the great sand-waste call’d ‘Kalahari’ lying north of here […]

    […] the elytra covering the hind wings of the firefly lift like a light leather, suppler than any other beetle’s.