noun, feminine/ʃə.nij/plural: chenilles
caterpillar; chenille; caterpillar track, snow chain; whirligig (fairground attraction)
“Il faut bien que je supporte deux ou trois chenilles si je veux connaître les papillons.” — Well, I must endure the presence of two or three caterpillars if I wish to become acquainted with the butterflies.
Inherited from Latin canīcula (“little dog”) (because of a caterpillar's head). Doublet of canicule.