Cam"e*o (?), n.; pl. Cameos (#). [It cammeo; akin to F. cam'ee, camaieu, Sp. camafeo, LL. camaeus, camahutus; of unknown origin.]
A carving in relief, esp. one on a small scale used as a jewel for personal adornment, or like.
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 Zool., a large, marine, univalve shell, esp. Cassis cameo, C. rua, and allied species, used for cutting cameos. See Quern conch.
© Webster 1913.