resilin

American  

[rez-uh-lin] / ˈrɛz ə lɪn /

noun

1. an elastic substance of cross-linked protein chains found in the cuticles of many insects, especially in the wings.

---

Etymology

Origin of resilin

First recorded in 1960–65; from Latin resilīre “to jump back, recoil” + -in ² ( def. ); see origin at resilient ( def. )

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

resilin

The larvae can alter the pH of the sac walls, causing the resilin to expand or contract.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 27, 2026

The bee can do this because of an elastic material in its wings called resilin, which allows it to crumple its wings like folding origami and bounce back.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 9, 2018

In fact, the layering of chitin and resilin resembles the design of archers’ composite bows from hundreds of years ago, such as those made of horn and wood, or leather and wood.

From Scientific American ● Jun. 18, 2018

That energy storage depends on an elastic protein called resilin first described by another Cambridge scientist, Torkel Weiss-Fogh, in 1960.

From New York Times ● Apr. 27, 2015

Kaplan is also intrigued by resilin, a springy protein found in cockroach cuticle.

From Time Magazine Archive