chamæleon

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. See chameleon.
2. n. The typical genus of the family Chamæleontidæ, containing the chameleons. See chameleon.
3. n. A name given by Theophrastus and other early writers to certain plants, because their leaves change color frequently. The black chamæleon is believed to have been Cardopatium corymbosum, a thistle-like plant of the Mediterranean region. The white chamæleon was the Carlina gummifera. The roots of both contain an acrid resin and were used medicinally.

Wiktionary

1. n. alternative spelling of chameleon.