WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Cam"e*o
Part of Speech : n.;
Etymology : [It cammeo; akin to F. cam?e, cama?eu, Sp. camafeo, LL. camaeus, camahutus; of unknown origin.]
Definition : Defn: A carving in relief, esp. one on a small scale used as a jewel for personal adornment, or like.

Note: Most cameos are carved in a material which has layers of different colors, such stones as the onyx and sardonyx, and various kinds of shells, being used. Cameo conch (Zo?l.), a large, marine, univalve shell, esp. Cassis cameo, C. rua, and allied species, used for cutting cameos. See Quern conch.

pl. Cameos.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913