noun

1. the disguising of troops, ships, guns, etc. to conceal them from the enemy, as by the use of paint, nets, or leaves in patterns merging with the background
2. a disguise or concealment of this kind
3. any device or action used to conceal or mislead; deception

Etymology: Fr < camoufler, to disguise; prob. altered (infl. by camouflet, puff of smoke) < It camuffare, to disguise

transitive verb, intransitive verb camouflaged -·flaged′, camouflaging -·flag′·ing