cameo
UK[ˈkæmioʊ]US[ˈkæmioʊ]
n
a small piece of jewelry, typically oval, with a carved portrait or scene in relief on a background of a different color.
n
a short, memorable appearance or role by a well-known actor or person in a film, play, or other work.
Etymology
the word 'cameo' entered english in the mid-16th century from italian 'cammeo'. the italian term likely derived from medieval latin 'camaeus' or 'cammaeus', whose origins are uncertain but may be connected to the arabic 'qamaa'il' (flower buds) or the persian 'chumahan' (an agate stone). originally, it referred specifically to the technique of carving a gemstone so that the raised design contrasts with the colored background layer. the modern figurative sense, referring to a brief but notable appearance by a prominent person, emerged in the early 20th century, drawing an analogy to the small, distinct, and finely crafted nature of the physical cameo.
Analysis
the word is a simplex loanword. it does not break down into meaningful substrings in english based on its current spelling.
Examples
she wore an antique cameo brooch depicting a classical goddess.
the famous director made a cameo appearance as a coffee shop customer.
his cameo in the series was brief but stole the scene.