CAMEO

noun (plural -eos) Etymology: Middle English camew, from Middle French camau, kamaheu Date: 15th century 1. a gem carved in relief, a small medallion with a profiled head in relief, a carving or sculpture made in the manner of a ~, a usually brief literary or filmic piece that brings into delicate or sharp relief the character of a person, place, or event, a small theatrical role usually performed by a well-known actor and often limited to a single scene, ~ adjective ~ transitive verb