cameo

n.; pl. Cameos [ It. cammeo; akin to F. camée, camaïeu, Sp. camafeo, LL. camaeus, camahutus; of unknown origin. ] A carving in relief, esp. one on a small scale used as a jewel for personal adornment, or like. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

☞ 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. The classical cameos made in Italy are carved on a seashell (see cameo conch, below), having an olive figure carved from the inner layer of the shell in relief on the white background of the outer layer of the shell. [ 1913 Webster ]

Cameo conch (Zool.), a large, marine, univalve shell, esp. Cassis cameo, Cassis rua, and allied species, used for cutting cameos. See Quern conch. [ 1913 Webster ]