American chameleon


See under (def 2).
any of numerous Old World lizards of the family Chamaeleontidae, characterized by the ability to change the color of their skin, very slow locomotion, and a projectile tongue.
any of several American lizards capable of changing the color of the skin, especially Anolis carolinensis (American chameleon) of the southeastern U.S.
a changeable, fickle, or inconstant person.
(initial capital letter) Astronomy, .
Historical Examples

The common colors of the American chameleon or the Anolis, which is its scientific name, are brown and green.
Pathfinder Alan Douglas

noun
another name for anole
noun
any lizard of the family Chamaeleontidae of Africa and Madagascar, having long slender legs, a prehensile tail and tongue, and the ability to change colour
a changeable or fickle person
n.

mid-14c., camelion, from Old French caméléon, from Latin chamaeleon, from Greek khamaileon “the chameleon,” from khamai “on the ground” (also “dwarf”), akin to chthon “earth” (see chthonic) + leon “lion” (see lion). Perhaps the large head-crest on some species was thought to resemble a lion’s mane. The classical -h- was restored in English early 18c. Figurative sense of “variable person” is 1580s. It formerly was supposed to live on air (cf. “Hamlet” III.ii.98).

a species of lizard which has the faculty of changing the colour of its skin. It is ranked among the unclean animals in Lev. 11:30, where the Hebrew word so translated is _coah_ (R.V., “land crocodile”). In the same verse the Hebrew _tanshemeth_, rendered in Authorized Version “mole,” is in Revised Version “chameleon,” which is the correct rendering. This animal is very common in Egypt and in the Holy Land, especially in the Jordan valley.

Read Also:

  • American cheese

    a type of processed cheddar-style cheese made in the U.S. noun a type of smooth hard white or yellow cheese similar to a mild Cheddar

  • American chestnut

    See under (def 1). any of the several deciduous trees constituting the genus Castanea, of the beech family, having toothed, oblong leaves and bearing edible nuts enclosed in a prickly bur, and including C. dentata (American chestnut) which has been virtually destroyed by the , C. sativa (European chestnut) C. mollissima (Chinese chestnut) and C. […]

  • American civil liberties union

    an organization founded in 1920 to defend the civil rights of all U.S. citizens. Abbreviation: ACLU, A.C.L.U. Contemporary Examples On Wednesday, Williams posted on Twitter a response from the American Civil Liberties Union declining to take up her case. Lynnae Williams: The CIA Spy Who Tweets Eli Lake March 28, 2012 The American Civil Liberties […]

  • American civil war

    the war in the U.S. between the North and the South, 1861–65. Contemporary Examples Many of us have tired of the blizzard of histories marking the sesquicentennial of the first years of the American Civil War. Atlanta’s Fall Foretold The End Of Civil War Bloodshed Marc Wortman August 31, 2014 Memorial Day began as Decoration […]

  • American cloth

    . noun a glazed or waterproofed cotton cloth


Disclaimer: American chameleon definition / meaning should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. All content on this website is for informational purposes only.