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.

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Etymology

Origin of resilin

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

Example Sentences

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

They secrete the hop-enabling protein resilin in a similar way, and differently from the way locust and dragonflies do.

From Scientific American • Jul. 27, 2013

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

From Time Magazine Archive