Middle English Dictionary Entry
cameliǒun n.
Entry Info
| Forms | cameliǒun n. Also camaleon, camle. |
| Etymology | L chamaeleon (from Gr.) & ML cameleo giraffe. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A chameleon; (b) a giraffe.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.159 : Þere beeþ also camelions [L chamæleon] and basiliscus..Camelion is a flekked best in colour liche to a lupard.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.2698 : The Camelion..upon every sondri hewe That he beholt, he moste newe His colour.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)275b/b : Camelion [L Cameleon] is a litel beste with diuerse coloures, and his body chaungeþ ful soone in to dyuerse coloures..And auicenne meneþ þat Camaleon [L Cameleon] and stellio, þe lusardis, been al oone.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)276a/a : The Camaleon is a beste yliche to þe euete in body.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Lev.11.30 : Thes..among polutid thinges shulen be holde..a camelion [L chamæleon], that is, a beeste varyed in to diuerse colours after diuerse lokingis.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)193/6 : Þere ben also in þat contree manye Camles [F camelions], þat is a lytill best as a Goot..And he chaungeth his colour oftentyme.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)142/24 : In þat cuntree also er many cameliouns, þe whilk es a lytill beste of þe mykilnes of a raa; and it nowþer etez ne drinkez, bot gase all way with þe mouth open, for it liffez with þe aer; And it chaungez oft þe colour.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)178a/b : Also þere ynne ben many wylde bestes..& þat beeste þat hatte Camelion [L cameles], a beeste with many colours.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Deut.14.5 : Beest that ȝe owen to eete: oxe and sheep..camelion [WB(2): camelioun; L camelopardalum]..a beest lijk a camele in the heed, in the bodi to a paard, and in the nek to an horse, in the feet to a bugle.
- c1450(c1400) Sultan Bab.(Gar 140)1008 : He made hem drinke Wilde beestes bloode, Of Tigre, Antilope, and of Camalyon.