camouflage
pronunciation
How to pronounce camouflage in British English:
UK [ˈkæməflɑːʒ]
How to pronounce camouflage in American English:
US [ˈkæməflɑːʒ]
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- Noun:
- an outward semblance that misrepresents the true nature of something
- fabric dyed with splotches of green and brown and black and tan; intended to make the wearer of a garment made of this fabric hard to distinguish from the background
- device or stratagem for concealment or deceit
- the act of concealing the identity of something by modifying its appearance
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- Verb:
- disguise by camouflaging; exploit the natural surroundings to disguise something
Word Origin
- camouflage
- camouflage: [20] Camouflage reached the English language during World War I, when the art of concealing objects from the enemy was considerably developed. It is of French origin, a derivative of the verb camoufler ‘disguise’, which came from Italian camuffare ‘disguise, trick’.
- camouflage
- 1917, noun, verb, and adjective, from French camoufler, Parisian slang, "to disguise," from Italian camuffare "to disguise," which is of uncertain origin, perhaps a contraction of capo muffare "to muffle the head." Probably altered by influence of French camouflet "puff of smoke," on the notion of "blow smoke in someone's face." The British navy in World War I called it dazzle-painting. Since the war started the POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY has published photographs of big British and French field pieces covered with shrubbery, railway trains "painted out" of the landscape, and all kinds of devices to hide the guns, trains, and the roads from the eyes of enemy aircraft. Until recently there was no one word in any language to explain this war trick. Sometimes a whole paragraph was required to explain this military practice. Hereafter one word, a French word, will save all this needless writing and reading. Camouflage is the new word, and it means "fooling the enemy." ["Popular Science Monthly," August 1917]
Synonym
Example
- 1. Chameleon change colour for camouflage and to communicate .
- 2. He was dressed in boots and camouflage and carried a pack larger than hers .
- 3. As long as he reads the woman as subject of the have / hold discourse he can camouflage his desire .
- 4. These fine human hairs do not seem to be performing any of the functions of their counterparts in more hirsute species ( insulation and , through colouration , either signalling or camouflage ) .
- 5. She was dressed in camouflage and holding a machine gun .