chameleon
UK[kəˈmiːliən]US[kəˈmiːliən]
n
a type of lizard that can change the colour of its skin to match its surroundings.
n
a person who changes their behaviour or opinions easily to please others.
Etymology
the word 'chameleon' entered english in the 14th century via latin 'chamaeleon', which was borrowed from greek 'khamaileōn'. the greek term is a compound of 'khamai', meaning 'on the ground' or 'dwarf', and 'leōn', meaning 'lion'. this poetic construction, literally translating to 'ground lion' or 'dwarf lion', likely refers to the creature's crested head, which was fancifully compared to a lion's mane, and its terrestrial habitat. the modern figurative sense, describing a changeable or inconstant person, directly derives from the animal's most famous characteristic—its ability to alter its appearance.
Analysis
the word is a simplex loanword from latin and greek. it is not productively formed from morphemes within modern english spelling and therefore is not segmented.
Examples
the chameleon slowly shifted its skin to a perfect match of the green leaf.
in politics, he was seen as a chameleon, adapting his stance to whatever audience he faced.
we kept a pet chameleon in a terrarium filled with plants and branches.