Came
(Came) n. [Cf. Scot. came, caim, comb, and OE. camet silver.] A slender rod of cast lead,
with or without grooves, used, in casements and stained-glass windows, to hold together the panes or
pieces of glass.
Camel
(Cam"el) n. [Oe. camel, chamel, OF. camel, chamel, F. chameau L. camelus, fr. Gr. ka`mhlos; of
Semitic origin; cf. Heb. gamal, Ar. jamal. Cf. As. camel, fr. L. camelus.]
1. (Zoöl.) A large ruminant used in Asia and Africa for carrying burdens and for riding. The camel is
remarkable for its ability to go a long time without drinking. Its hoofs are small, and situated at the extremities
of the toes, and the weight of the animal rests on the callous. The dromedary (Camelus dromedarius)
has one bunch on the back, while the Bactrian camel (C. Bactrianus) has two. The llama, alpaca, and
vicuña, of South America, belong to a related genus
2. (Naut.) A water-tight structure (as a large box or boxes) used to assist a vessel in passing over a
shoal or bar or in navigating shallow water. By admitting water, the camel or camels may be sunk and
attached beneath or at the sides of a vessel, and when the water is pumped out the vessel is lifted.
Camel bird (Zoöl.), the ostrich. — Camel locust (Zoöl.), the mantis. — Camel's thorn (Bot.), a low,
leguminous shrub (Alhagi maurorum) of the Arabian desert, from which exudes a sweetish gum, which
is one of the substances called manna.
Camel-backed
(Cam"el-backed`) a. Having a back like a camel; humpbacked. Fuller.
Cameleon
(Ca*me"le*on) n. See Chaceleon. [Obs.]
Camellia
(Ca*mel"li*a) n. [NL.; — named after Kamel, a Jesuit who is said to have brought it from the
East.] (Bot.) An Asiatic genus of small shrubs, often with shining leaves and showy flowers. Camellia
Japonica is much cultivated for ornament, and C. Sassanqua and C. oleifera are grown in China for
the oil which is pressed from their seeds. The tea plant is now referred to this genus under the name of
Camellia Thea.
Camelopard
(Ca*mel"o*pard) (ka*mel"o*pärd or kam"el*o*pärd; 277), n. [LL. camelopardus, L. camelopardalus,
camelopardalis, fr. Gr. kamhlopa`rdalis; ka`mhlos a camel + pa`rdalis pard, leopard: cf. F. camélopard.
The camelopard has a neck and head like a camel, and is spotted like a pard. See Camel, and Pard.]
(Zoöl.) An African ruminant; the giraffe. See Giraffe.
Camelot
(Came"lot) n. See Camelet. [Obs.]
Camelshair
(Cam"els*hair`) a. Of camel's hair.
Camel's-hair pencil, a small brush used by painters in water colors, made of camel's hair or similar
materials. — Camel's-hair shawl. A name often given to a cashmere shawl. See Cashmere shawl
under Cashmere.
Cameo
(Cam"e*o) n.; pl. Cameos [It cammeo; akin to F. camée, camaïeu, 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.
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.
Cameo conch (Zoöl.), a large, marine, univalve shell, esp. Cassis cameo, C. rua, and allied species,
used for cutting cameos. See Quern conch.
