n. [ F. cocon, dim. of coque shell of egge and insects, fr. L. concha mussel shell. See Conch. ] 1. An oblong case in which the silkworm lies in its chrysalis state. It is formed of threads of silk spun by the worm just before leaving the larval state. From these the silk of commerce is prepared. [ 1913 Webster ]
2. (Zool.) (a) The case constructed by any insect to contain its larva or pupa. (b) The case of silk made by spiders to protect their eggs. (c) The egg cases of mucus, etc., made by leeches and other worms. [ 1913 Webster ]
[作茧自缚 / 作繭自縛, zuò jiǎn zì fú, ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄐㄧㄢˇ ㄗˋ ㄈㄨˊ]to spin a cocoon around oneself (成语 saw); enmeshed in a trap of one's own devising; hoist with his own petard#57861[Add to Longdo]
[吐丝自缚 / 吐絲自縛, tǔ sī zì fú, ㄊㄨˇ ㄙ ㄗˋ ㄈㄨˊ]to spin a cocoon around oneself (成语 saw); enmeshed in a trap of one's own devising; hoist with his own petard[Add to Longdo]
[造茧自缚 / 造繭自縛, zào jiǎn zì fú, ㄗㄠˋ ㄐㄧㄢˇ ㄗˋ ㄈㄨˊ]to spin a cocoon around oneself (成语 saw); enmeshed in a trap of one's own devising; hoist with his own petard[Add to Longdo]