larva

Where does the word "larva" come from? It comes from Latin larva, and was adopted directly into English (1650s).

Larva’s story begins in Latin: larva meant “a ghost, a mask.” Literally a ghost, a mask, since the immature insect masks its adult form. It reached English by 1650s as larva. Latin 'ghost, mask', since the larva hides the adult's form; Linnaeus used it for insects. Today, larva means the immature, wingless form of an insect after hatching from an egg.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient larva "a ghost, a mask", literally a ghost, a mask, since the immature insect masks its adult form.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1650s larva "the immature, wingless stage of an insect", Latin 'ghost, mask', since the larva hides the adult's form; Linnaeus used it for insects.