Peter Mayle
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Since at least the late 1600s, 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 derives, via French cocon, from Occitan coucoun, which, in turn, emerged from coco, an Occitan term for "shell." Linguists believe the Occitan term was probably born of the Latin word coccum, a noun that has been translated as kermes, which refers to the dried bodies of some insects that are sometimes found on certain trees. The verb cocoon has been with us since the latter half of the 19th century.
Examples of cocoon in a Sentence
Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 14 July 2025
The sound is dampened to accentuate her safety inside her transparent cocoon.
—Scott Phillips, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 July 2025
Those who prefer a thin sheath of breading around their fish might be a smidge put off by Love Handle’s catfish, which is cocooned in a hefty, pebbly crust more akin to a pork tenderloin.
—Bradley Hohulin, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for cocoon
Cite this Entry
“Cocoon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cocoon. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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