Word of the Day

: October 6, 2007

cocoon

verb kuh-KOON

What It Means

: to wrap or envelop in or as if in a cocoon

cocoon in Context

Lily settled into the bleachers and cocooned herself in blankets so she could enjoy the ball game without being chilled by the icy wind.

Did You Know?

Since at least 1679, English speakers have been using the noun "cocoon" for the silky covering that surrounds a caterpillar or other insect larva in the pupa stage of metamorphosis. The word came into English from French, which in turn borrowed it from an Occitan term for "eggshell." Linguists believe the Occitan term was probably born of the Latin "coccum," a noun that has been translated as "kermes," the dried bodies of some insects that can be found on certain trees. The verb "cocoon" has been with us since at least 1881.