资料来源 : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Chameleon \Cha*me"le*on\ (k[.a]*m[=e]"l[-e]*[u^]n), n. [L.
   Chamaeleon, Gr. chamaile`wn, lit., ``ground lion;'' chamai`
   on the ground + le`wn lion. See {Humble}, and {Lion}.]
   (Zo["o]l.)
   A lizardlike reptile of the genus {Cham[ae]leo}, of several
   species, found in Africa, Asia, and Europe. The skin is
   covered with fine granulations; 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
         {Iguanid[ae]}. 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}.