Camouflage Definition

kămə-fläzh, -fläj

camouflaged, camouflages, camouflaging

noun

camouflages

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.

Webster's New World

The concealing of personnel or equipment from an enemy by making them appear to be part of the natural surroundings.

American Heritage

A shape or coloring that conceals.

The leopard's camouflage makes it blend in with the forest shadows.

American Heritage

A disguise or concealment of this kind.

Webster's New World

Any device or action used to conceal or mislead; deception.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Antonyms:
display
exhibit

verb

camouflaged, camouflages, camouflaging

To conceal by the use of camouflage.

American Heritage

To disguise (a thing or person) in order to conceal.

Webster's New World

To use camouflage for concealment.

American Heritage

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Other Word Forms of Camouflage

Noun

Singular:

camouflage

Plural:

camouflages

Origin of Camouflage

Borrowing from French camouflage, from camoufler (“to veil, disguise”), alteration (due to camouflet "smoke blown in one's face") of Italian camuffare (“to muffle the head”), from ca- (from Italian capo "head") + muffare (“to muffle”), from Medieval Latin muffula, muffla (“muff”), from Frankish *molfell (“soft garment made of hide”) from *mol (“softened, forworn”) (akin to Old High German molawēn "to soften", Middle High German molwic "soft") + *fell (“hide, skin”), from Proto-Germanic *fellą (“skin, film, fleece”), from Proto-Indo-European *pel(e)(w)-, *plē(w)- (“skin, hide”). Akin to Old High German fel (“fell, skin, hide”), Old English fell (“fell, skin, hide”). Alternate etymology traces the Italian and Medieval Latin words to Middle High German mouwe, mōwe (“sleeve”) (German Muff "muff", Dutch mouw "sleeve") from Proto-Germanic *mawwō (“sleeve”) + fell "skin". More at mulch, fell.

From Wiktionary
French from camoufler to disguise alteration (influenced by camouflet snub, smoke blown in one's face) of Italian camuffare

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition