elytron

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek ἔλυτρον (élutron, “sheath”).

noun

  1. A sheath or outer covering, especially around the spinal cord or over the hindwings of certain insects.
    […] the elytra covering the hind wings of the firefly lift like a light leather, suppler than any other beetle’s. 2020, Aimee Nezhukumatathil, World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, and Other Astonishments, Minneapolis: Milkweed Editions, page 9

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