Other forms: cameos
A cameo is a raised figure carved on a stone of two colours. A shell cameo, a cameo brooch, carve a cameo.
The carver cuts down through a pale upper layer to a dark one beneath, so the figure stands out in white against the ground. The film sense is a short appearance by somebody famous, named from the same idea of a small piece with one striking figure.
1nouncarvingA raised figure carved on a stone of two colours.
“She wore a cameo brooch with a woman's face carved in white on pink shell.”
cameo is a carving.
Italian cammeo, of unknown origin. The film sense is short for cameo role.
Medieval Latin
camaeus
Italian
cammeo
English, today
cameo
Borrowed from Italian cammeo, from Medieval Latin camaeus, of unknown origin. The movie sense is short for “cameo role” referring to a famous person who was playing no character, but him or herself. Like a cameo brooch — a low-relief carving of a person’s head or bust — the actor or celebrity is instantly recognizable. More recently, it has come to refer to any short appearances, whether as a character or as oneself. a doublet of camaieu.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA