The hardened front wing (forewing) of insects in the order Hemiptera, like beetles and true bugs, which is partially hardened and partially membranous.
From Greek hemi- (half) + elytron (sheath or wing cover). The term describes the distinctive half-hard, half-soft wing structure characteristic of true bugs and some beetles.
If you've ever caught a stink bug or shield bug, you've felt the weird leathery-but-bendy wing—that's the hemelytrum, and it's why these insects are called 'hemipterans' (half-wings), one of nature's coolest design solutions.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.