CHAMELEONS
Noun
chameleons
plural of chameleon
Source: Wiktionary
CHAMELEON
Cha*me"le*on, n. Etym: [L. Chamaeleon, Gr. Humble, and Lion.] (Zoöl.)
Definition: A lizardlike reptile of the genus Chamæleo, of several species,
found in Africa, Asia, and Europe. The skin is covered with fine
granmulations; the tail is prehensile, and the body is much
compressed laterally, giving it a high back.
Note: Its color changes more or less with the color of the objects
about it, or with its temper when disturbed. In a cool, dark place it
is nearly white, or grayish; on admitting the light, it changes to
brown, bottle-green, or blood red, of various shades, and more or
less mottled in arrangment. The American chameleons belong to Anolis
and allied genera of the family Iguanidæ. They are more slender in
form than the true chameleons, but have the same power of changing
their colors. Chameleon mineral (Chem.), the compound called
potassium permanganate, a dark violet, crystalline substance, KMnO4,
which in formation passes through a peculiar succession of color from
green to blue, purple, red, etc. See Potassium permanganate, under
Potassium.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition