camouflage
cam·ou·flage / ˈkaməˌfläzh; -ˌfläj/ • n. the disguising of military personnel, equipment, and installations by painting or covering them to make them blend in with their surroundings. ∎ the clothing or materials used for such a purpose: figures dressed in army camouflage. ∎ an animal's natural coloring or form that enables it to blend in with its surroundings: the whiteness of polar bears provides camouflage. ∎ fig. actions or devices intended to disguise or mislead: much of my apparent indifference was merely protective camouflage.• v. [tr.] (often be camouflaged) hide or disguise the presence of (a person, animal, or object) by means of camouflage: the war area had to be camouflaged with mud | fig. grievances should be discussed, not camouflaged. ORIGIN: World War I: from French, from camoufler ‘to disguise’ (originally thieves' slang), from Italian camuffare ‘disguise, deceive,’ perhaps by association with French camouflet ‘whiff of smoke in the face.’