a small slow-moving lizard with a prehensile tail, long extensible tongue, protruding eyes, and the ability to change colour.
[Chamaeleo and other genera, family Chamaeleonidae: numerous species.]
Derivative
chameleonicadj.
Etymology
ME: via L. chamaeleon from Gk khamaileōn, from khamai ‘on the ground’ + leōn ‘lion’.