English → Latin
“cameleon” in Latin
versipellisshape-shifting, capable of transforming itself or altering its appearance; sly, cunning, craftychamaeleōnchameleon (a kind of lizard); carline thistle
Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864
cameleon s.
Chamaeleon, ontis (Plin.): lacerta chamaeleon (Linn.).
FIG., versipellis, or qui versat naturam suam atque hue illuc torquet, applied to a man of a variable disposition, or who can assume any character.
Quick answer
- What is the Latin word for cameleon?
- The usual Latin words for “cameleon” are versipellis, chamaeleōn. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.
Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.