cameo

 
Pronunciation: /ˈkamɪəʊ/

noun (plural cameos)

  • 1a piece of jewellery, typically oval in shape, consisting of a portrait in profile carved in relief on a background of a different colour: [as modifier]: a cameo brooch
  • 2a short descriptive literary sketch which neatly encapsulates someone or something: cameos of street life
  • a small character part in a play or film, played by a distinguished actor: [as modifier]: he played numerous cameo roles

Origin:

late Middle English: from Old French camahieu, cama(h)u; later influenced by Italian cam(m)eo, from medieval Latin cammaeus, related to the Old French word