cocoon

From French cocon, diminutive of coque (“shell”).

• IPA^(key): /kəˈkuːn/

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cocoon (plural cocoons)

1. The silky protective case spun by the larvae of some insects and moths in which they metamorphose, the pupa.
2. Any similar protective case, whether real or metaphorical.

cocoon (third-person singular simple present cocoons, present participle cocooning, simple past and past participle cocooned)

1. (transitive) To envelop in a protective case
2. (intransitive) To withdraw into such a case.