Cambrian Cam"bri·an adjective 1. (Geology) Of or pertaining to Cambria or Wales.

2. (Geol.) Of or pertaining to the lowest subdivision of the rocks of the Silurian or Molluscan age; -- sometimes described as inferior to the Silurian. It is named from its development in Cambria or Wales. See the Diagram under Geology .

Cambrian Cam"bri·an noun 1. A native of Cambria or Wales.

2. (Geol.) The Cambrian formation.

Cambric Cam"bric noun [ Middle English camerike , from Cambrai (Flemish Kamerik ), a city of France (formerly of Flanders), where it was first made.] 1. A fine, thin, and white fabric made of flax or linen.

He hath ribbons of all the colors i' the rainbow; . . . inkles, caddises, cambrics , lawns.
Shak.

2. A fabric made, in imitation of linen cambric, of fine, hardspun cotton, often with figures of various colors; -- also called cotton cambric , and cambric muslin .

Cambro-Briton Cam"bro-Brit"on noun A Welshman.

Came Came imperfect of Come .

Came Came noun [ Confer Scot. came , caim , comb, and Middle English camet silver.] A slender rod of cast lead, with or without grooves, used, in casements and stained-glass windows, to hold together the panes or pieces of glass.

Camel Cam"el (kăm"ĕl) noun [ Oe. camel , chamel , Old French camel , chamel , French chameau Latin camelus , from Greek ka`mhlos ; of Semitic origin; confer Hebrew gāmāl , Arabic jamal . Confer As. camel , from Latin camelus .] 1. (Zoology) A large ruminant used in Asia and Africa for carrying burdens and for riding. The camel is remarkable for its ability to go a long time without drinking. Its hoofs are small, and situated at the extremities of the toes, and the weight of the animal rests on the callous. The dromedary ( Camelus dromedarius ) has one bunch on the back, while the Bactrian camel ( C. Bactrianus ) has two. The llama, alpaca, and vicuña, of South America, belong to a related genus ( Auchenia ).

2. (Nautical) A water-tight structure (as a large box or boxes) used to assist a vessel in passing over a shoal or bar or in navigating shallow water. By admitting water, the camel or camels may be sunk and attached beneath or at the sides of a vessel, and when the water is pumped out the vessel is lifted.

Camel bird (Zoology) , the ostrich. -- Camel locust (Zoology) , the mantis. -- Camel's thorn (Botany) , a low, leguminous shrub ( Alhagi maurorum ) of the Arabian desert, from which exudes a sweetish gum, which is one of the substances called manna .

Camel-backed Cam"el-backed` adjective Having a back like a camel; humpbacked. Fuller.

Cameleon Ca·me"le·on noun See Chaceleon . [ Obsolete]

Camellia Ca·mel"li·a noun [ New Latin ; -- named after Kamel , a Jesuit who is said to have brought it from the East.] (Botany) An Asiatic genus of small shrubs, often with shining leaves and showy flowers. Camellia Japonica is much cultivated for ornament, and C. Sassanqua and C. oleifera are grown in China for the oil which is pressed from their seeds. The tea plant is now referred to this genus under the name of Camellia Thea .

Camellia Ca·mel"li·a noun [ New Latin , after Georg Josef Kamel , or Camelli , a Jesuit who is said to have brought it from the East.] (Hort.) An ornamental greenhouse shrub ( Thea japonica ) with glossy evergreen leaves and roselike red or white double flowers.

Camelopard Ca·mel"o·pard (kȧ*mĕl"o*pärd or kăm"ĕl*o*pärd; 277) noun [ Late Latin camelopardus , Latin camelopardalus , camelopardalis , from Greek kamhlopa`rdalis ; ka`mhlos a camel + pa`rdalis pard, leopard: confer French camélopard . The camelopard has a neck and head like a camel, and is spotted like a pard. See Camel , and Pard .] (Zoology) An African ruminant; the giraffe. See Giraffe .

Camelot Came"lot noun See Camelet . [ Obsolete]

Camelry Cam"el·ry noun Troops that are mounted on camels.

Camelshair Cam"els·hair` adjective Of camel's hair.

Camel's-hair pencil , a small brush used by painters in water colors, made of camel's hair or similar materials. -- Camel's-hair shawl . A name often given to a cashmere shawl . See Cashmere shawl under Cashmere .

Camembert Ca`mem`bert" noun , or Camembert cheese A kind of soft, unpressed cream cheese made in the vicinity of Camembert, near Argentan, France; also, any cheese of the same type, wherever made.

Cameo Cam"e·o noun ; plural Cameos . [ It cammeo ; akin to French camée , camaïeu , Spanish camafeo , Late Latin camaeus , camahutus ; of unknown origin.] A carving in relief, esp. one on a small scale used as a jewel for personal adornment, or like.

» Most cameos are carved in a material which has layers of different colors, such stones as the onyx and sardonyx, and various kinds of shells, being used.

Cameo conch (Zoology) , a large, marine, univalve shell, esp. Cassis cameo , C. rua , and allied species, used for cutting cameos. See Quern conch .

Camera Cam"e·ra noun ; plural English Cameras , Latin Camerae . [ Latin vault, arch, Late Latin , chamber. See Chamber .] A chamber, or instrument having a chamber. Specifically: The camera obscura when used in photography. See Camera , and Camera obscura .

Bellows camera . See under Bellows . -- In camera (Law) , in a judge's chamber, that is, privately; as, a judge hears testimony which is not fit for the open court in camera . -- Panoramic , or Pantascopic , camera , a photographic camera in which the lens and sensitized plate revolve so as to expose adjacent parts of the plate successively to the light, which reaches it through a narrow vertical slit; -- used in photographing broad landscapes. Abney.

Camera lucida Cam"e·ra lu"ci·da [ Latin camera chamber + Latin lucidus , lucida , lucid, light.] (Opt.) An instrument which by means of a prism of a peculiar form, or an arrangement of mirrors, causes an apparent image of an external object or objects to appear as if projected upon a plane surface, as of paper or canvas, so that the outlines may conveniently traced. It is generally used with the microscope.

Camera obscura Cam"e·ra ob·scu"ra [ Late Latin camera chamber + Latin obscurus , obscura , dark.] (Opt.) 1. An apparatus in which the images of external objects, formed by a convex lens or a concave mirror, are thrown on a paper or other white surface placed in the focus of the lens or mirror within a darkened chamber, or box, so that the outlines may be traced.

2. (Photog.) An apparatus in which the image of an external object or objects is, by means of lenses, thrown upon a sensitized plate or surface placed at the back of an extensible darkened box or chamber variously modified; -- commonly called simply the camera .

Camerade Came"rade noun See Comrade . [ Obsolete]

Cameralistic Cam`e·ra·lis"tic adjective Of or pertaining to finance and public revenue.

Cameralistics Cam`e·ra·lis"tics noun [ Confer French caméralistique , German kameralistik , from Latin camera vault, Late Latin , chamber, treasury.] The science of finance or public revenue.

Camerate Cam"er·ate intransitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Camerated ; present participle & verbal noun Camerzting .] [ Latin cameratus , past participle of camerare . See Camber .] 1. To build in the form of a vault; to arch over.

2. To divide into chambers.

Cameration Cam`er·a"tion noun [ Latin cameratio .] A vaulting or arching over. [ R.]

Camerlingo Ca`mer·lin"go noun [ Italian ] The papal chamberlain; the cardinal who presides over the pope's household. He has at times possessed great power. [ Written also camerlengo and camarlengo .]

Cameronian Cam`e·ro"ni·an noun A follower of the Rev. Richard Cameron , a Scotch Covenanter of the time of Charles II.

Cameron and others refused to accept the "indulgence" offered the Presbyterian clergy, insisted on the Solemn league and Covenant, and in 1680 declared Charles II. deposed for tyranny, breach of faith, etc. Cameron was killed at the battle of Airdmoss, but his followers became a denomination (afterwards called Reformed Presbyterians) who refused to recognize laws or institutions which they believed contrary to the kingdom of Christ, but who now avail themselves of political rights.

Camis Cam"is (kăm"ĭs) noun [ See Chemise .] A light, loose dress or robe. [ Also written camus .] [ Obsolete]

All in a camis light of purple silk.
Spenser.

Camisade, Camisado Cam`i·sade", Cam`i·sa"do noun [ French camisade a night attack; confer Italian camiciata . See Camis .] [ Obsolete] (Mil.) (a) A shirt worn by soldiers over their uniform, in order to be able to recognize one another in a night attack. (b) An attack by surprise by soldiers wearing the camisado.

Give them a camisado in night season.
Holinshed.

Camisard Cam"i·sard noun [ French] One of the French Protestant insurgents who rebelled against Louis XIV, after the revocation of the edict of Nates; -- so called from the peasant's smock ( camise ) which they wore.

Camisated Cam"i·sa`ted adjective Dressed with a shirt over the other garments.

Camisole Cam"i·sole noun [ French See chemise .] 1. A short dressing jacket for women.

2. A kind of straitjacket.

Camlet Cam"let noun [ French camelot (akin to Spanish camelote , chamelote , Italian cambellbito , ciambellotto , Late Latin camelotum , camelinum , from Arabic khamlat camlet, from kaml pile, plush. The word was early confused with camel , camel's hair also being used in making it. Confer Calamanco ] A woven fabric originally made of camel's hair, now chiefly of goat's hair and silk, or of wool and cotton. [ Sometimes written camelot and camblet .]

» They have been made plain and twilled, of single warp and weft, of double warp, and sometimes with double weft also, with thicker yarn. Beck (Draper's Dict. )

Camleted Cam"let·ed adjective Wavy or undulating like camlet; veined. Sir T. Herbert.

Cammas Cam"mas noun (Botany) See Camass .

Cammock Cam"mock noun [ Anglo-Saxon cammoc .] (Botany) A plant having long hard, crooked roots, the Ononis spinosa ; -- called also rest- harrow . The Scandix Pecten-Veneris is also called cammock .

Camomile, Chamomile Cam"o·mile, Cham"o·mile noun [ Late Latin camonilla , corrupted from Greek ..., lit. earth apple, being so called from the smell of its flower. See Humble , and Melon .] (Botany) A genus of herbs ( Anthemis ) of the Composite family. The common camomile, A. nobilis , is used as a popular remedy. Its flowers have a strong and fragrant and a bitter, aromatic taste. They are tonic, febrifugal, and in large doses emetic, and the volatile oil is carminative.

Camonflet Ca·mon"flet noun [ French] (Mil.) A small mine, sometimes formed in the wall or side of an enemy's gallery, to blow in the earth and cut off the retreat of the miners. Farrow.

Camorra Ca·mor"ra noun [ Italian ] A secret organization formed at Naples, Italy, early in the 19th century, and used partly for political ends and partly for practicing extortion, violence, etc. -- Ca*mor"rist noun

Camous, Camoys Ca"mous, Ca"moys adjective [ French camus (equiv. to camard ) flat-nosed, from Celtic Cam croked + suff. -us ; akin to Latin camur , camurus , croked.] Flat; depressed; crooked; -- said only of the nose. [ Obsolete]

Camoused Ca"moused adjective [ From Camouse ] Depressed; flattened. [ Obsolete]

Though my nose be cammoused .
B. Jonson

Camously Ca"mous·ly adverb Awry. [ Obsolete] Skelton.

Camp Camp (kămp) noun [ French camp , Italian campo , from Latin campus plant, field; akin to Greek kh^pos garden. Confer Campaign , Champ , noun ] 1. The ground or spot on which tents, huts, etc., are erected for shelter, as for an army or for lumbermen, etc. Shak.

2. A collection of tents, huts, etc., for shelter, commonly arranged in an orderly manner.

Forming a camp in the neighborhood of Boston.
W. Irving.

3. A single hut or shelter; as, a hunter's camp .

4. The company or body of persons encamped, as of soldiers, of surveyors, of lumbermen, etc.

The camp broke up with the confusion of a flight.
Macaulay.

5. (Agriculture) A mound of earth in which potatoes and other vegetables are stored for protection against frost; -- called also burrow and pie . [ Prov. Eng.]

6. [ Confer Middle English & Anglo-Saxon camp contest, battle. See champion .] An ancient game of football, played in some parts of England. Halliwell.

Camp bedstead , a light bedstead that can be folded up onto a small space for easy transportation. -- camp ceiling (Architecture) , a kind ceiling often used in attics or garrets, in which the side walls are inclined inward at the top, following the slope of the rafters, to meet the plane surface of the upper ceiling. -- Camp chair , a light chair that can be folded up compactly for easy transportation; the seat and back are often made of strips or pieces of carpet. -- Camp fever , typhus fever. -- Camp follower , a civilian accompanying an army, as a sutler, servant, etc. -- Camp meeting , a religious gathering for open-air preaching, held in some retired spot, chiefly by Methodists. It usually last for several days, during which those present lodge in tents, temporary houses, or cottages. -- Camp stool , the same as camp chair , except that the stool has no back. -- Flying camp (Mil.) , a camp or body of troops formed for rapid motion from one place to another. Farrow. -- To pitch (a) camp , to set up the tents or huts of a camp. -- To strike camp , to take down the tents or huts of a camp.

Camp Camp (kămp) transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Camped (kămt; 215); present participle & vb noun Camping .] To afford rest or lodging for, as an army or travelers.

Had our great palace the capacity
To camp this host, we all would sup together.
Shak.

Camp Camp intransitive verb 1. To pitch or prepare a camp; to encamp; to lodge in a camp; - - often with out .

They camped out at night, under the stars.
W. Irving.

2. [ See Camp , noun , 6] To play the game called camp. [ Prov. Eng.] Tusser.

Campagna Cam·pa"gna (cȧm*pä"nyȧ) noun [ Italian See Campaigg .] An open level tract of country; especially " Campagna di Roma." The extensive undulating plain which surrounds Rome.

» Its length is commonly stated to be about ninety miles, and its breadth from twenty-seven to forty miles. The ground is almost entirely volcanic, and vapors which arise from the district produce malaria.

Campagnol Cam`pa`gnol" noun [ French , from campagne field.] (Zoology) A mouse ( Arvicala agrestis ), called also meadow mouse , which often does great damage in fields and gardens, by feeding on roots and seeds.

Campaign Cam·paign" noun [ French campagne , Italian campagna , from Latin Campania the level country about Naples, from campus field. See Camp , and confer Champaign , Champagne .] 1. An open field; a large, open plain without considerable hills. See Champaign . Grath.

2. (Mil.) A connected series of military operations forming a distinct stage in a war; the time during which an army keeps the field. Wilhelm.

3. Political operations preceding an election; a canvass. [ Cant, U. S.]

4. (Metal.) The period during which a blast furnace is continuously in operation.

Campaign Cam·paign" intransitive verb To serve in a campaign.

Campaigner Cam·paign"er noun One who has served in an army in several campaigns; an old soldier; a veteran.

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