Chamaeleons

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A group of lizards known for their ability to change color
2. characterized by their distinctive zygodactylous feet that allow them to grasp branches
3. capable of projecting their tongues to catch insects with remarkable speed

Etymology: "Chamaeleons" is the plural of "chamaeleon," the form that English keeps from Latin and Greek for the lizard. The singular comes from Greek "khamaileōn," a compound of "khamai," meaning "on the ground," and "leōn," meaning "lion." The name refers to the creature's low-slung posture on the ground, a sense that feels far from its modern association with colour change. The plural follows the classical pattern, and the spelling with "ae" preserves the Latin and Greek vowels that many modern dictionaries now simplify to "chameleons." Both spellings are accepted, and the older form is the one that tends to appear in scientific and formal writing.