English
mascara
Mascara comes from Italian maschera ‘mask’, and goes back to Late Latin mascara.
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEmascara
- Italianc. 1300–presentmaschera‘mask’
- Englishearliest quotation 2000mascara
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEmascara
- Italianc. 1300–presentmaschera‘mask’
- Englishearliest quotation 2000mascara
Earliest quotation: 2000, JG Ballard, Super-Cannes: “With her rouged cheeks, silver lipcoat and mascara she…”
Linked words
through Italian maschera ‘mask’
Today it means
noun A cosmetic used to darken and thicken the eyelashes.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Late Latin mascara / mascara