- Cassis rua
- Cameo Cam"e*o (k[a^]m"[-e]*[-o]), n.; pl. {Cameos}
(k[a^]m"[-e]*[=o]z). [It. cammeo; akin to F. cam['e]e,
cama["i]eu, 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.
[1913 Webster +PJC]
Note: 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. The classical cameos made in Italy are carved on a seashell (see {cameo conch}, below), having an olive figure carved from the inner layer of the shell in relief on the white background of the outer layer of the shell. [1913 Webster]
{Cameo conch} (Zo["o]l.), a large, marine, univalve shell, esp. {Cassis cameo}, {Cassis rua}, and allied species, used for cutting cameos. See {Quern conch}. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
