camouflage
UK[ˈkæm.ə.flɑːʒ]US[ˈkæm.ə.flɑːʒ]
n
the way in which the colour or shape of an animal or plant appears to mix with its natural environment to prevent it from being seen and attacked
n
the use of leaves, branches, paints, or clothes to hide soldiers or military equipment so that they cannot be seen against the area around them
v
to hide someone or something by making them or it look like the things around, or like something else
Morpheme Breakdown
camouf
lage
camouf
smoke
lage
action
Etymology
the word 'camouflage' entered english from french during world war i, where it described the military tactic of concealment. its french root, 'camoufler', meaning 'to disguise', is believed to have evolved from the italian 'camuffare', a verb associated with the act of disguising or tricking, possibly by blowing smoke in someone's face. the suffix '-age' is a common french nominalizer, turning the action into a noun denoting the practice or result. thus, the literal concept of a "smoke-blowing action" evolved metaphorically into the modern abstract meaning of using any visual deception to blend into the surroundings.
Analysis
Structure: camouf (smoke) + lage (action)
camouf (from italian 'camuffare', meaning 'to disguise', likely related to 'camuffo' meaning 'smoke blown in someone's face'); lage (a french noun-forming suffix, from latin '-aticum', indicating an action or result)
Examples
the leopard's camouflage makes it almost invisible in the dappled sunlight of the forest.
the soldiers wore camouflage uniforms to blend in with the jungle.
some insects have evolved to camouflage themselves as leaves or twigs.