The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Chrysalis \Chrys"a*lis\, n.; pl. Chrysalides. [L. chrysallis
   the gold-colored pupa of butterflies, Gr. ?, fr. ? gold. Cf.
   Aurelia.] (Zool.)
   The pupa state of certain insects, esp. of butterflies, from
   which the perfect insect emerges. See Pupa, and Aurelia
   (a) .
       [1913 Webster]