COCOON

Set to 4 different clues across 4 published puzzles, most often “Butterfly protector” — The New York Times, Monday, 13 June 2011.

6 letters

Every clue on record, most used first

Butterfly protectoronce
The New York Times — Monday, 13 June 2011
Thing from which a butterfly emergesonce
The New York Times — Monday, 1 December 2008
Cover made of silkonce
The New York Times — Friday, 13 February 2004
Caterpillar's quartersonce
The New York Times — Sunday, 12 March 1995