elytron
noun
- The hard exoskeletal layer which covers the wings of beetles
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”).
- 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.”