cameo

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈkæm.iː.əʊ/ (UK); /ˈkæm.i.oʊ/ (US)^[1]

Etymology

The modern form is borrowed from Italian cameo, cammeo (1670).^[2][3][4] Earlier English forms were camew (1437), from Middle French camahieu, Old French camaieu, cameu,^{[2][3][5][6][4]} and camfeo (1554), from Spanish camafeo,^[3] all from a source represented by Medieval Latin cammaeus, camahūtus, of unknown origin.^[2][3][5][4] It may be of Eastern origin, perhaps Arabic qamaa'il “flower buds” or Persian chumahan “agate”.^[5][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

A precious stone with two layers of different colours, in the upper of which a figure is carved in relief against the lower (1222, in Anglo-Latin; early 15th century in English spellings such as camew).^[7][5][3]

Semantic evolution

In the 19th century the word was used of other raised carving on a miniature scale.^[5] By transfer from cameo silhouettes it came to mean a short literary sketch or portrait (1851),^[5][7][3] and from 1928 a small character part that stands out from the other minor parts in a play or film.^[5][7] It now often means a brief appearance by a well-known performer,^[2][8][1] and is also used as a verb, to make such an appearance.^[2][1]

Timeline

• 1222 – in Anglo-Latin texts.^[7]
• 1437 – camew.^[3]
• 1554 – camfeo.^[3]
• 1670 – cameo.^[3]
• 1851 – a short literary sketch.^[7][5][3]
• 1928 – a small, outstanding part in a play.^[5]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. A gem or shell carved in relief, especially with the raised design and the background in layers of contrasting colours; also the technique of carving in this way.
2. A small medallion with a head carved in profile in relief.
3. A brief, vivid portrayal or depiction, as a literary sketch or short scene.
4. A brief appearance by a prominent performer in a single scene of a film or play.

Verb

1. To make a brief but dramatic appearance, as in a film.
2. To portray in sharp, delicate relief.

Word family

• cameo ware

Related words

• intaglio
• onyx
• relief

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
4. ^ a b c d Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Harper, Douglas, Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
6. ^ Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
7. ^ a b c d e Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
8. ^ Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1999), 2nd ed., New York: Random House