Etymograph

English

mascaron

Mascaron comes from Italian mascherone ‘augmentative of maschera’, from maschera ‘mask’, and ultimately from Late Latin mascara.

  1. Late Latinc. 200–600 CEmascara
  2. Italianc. 1300–presentmaschera‘mask’
  3. Italian, derivedc. 1300–presentmascherone‘augmentative of maschera’
  4. Frenchc. 1600–presentmascaron
  5. Englishearliest quotation 1909same form

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Late Latinc. 200–600 CEmascara
  2. Italianc. 1300–presentmaschera‘mask’
  3. Italian, derivedc. 1300–presentmascherone‘augmentative of maschera’
  4. Frenchc. 1600–presentmascaron
  5. Englishearliest quotation 1909same form

Earliest quotation: 1909, Francis Miltoun, Castles and Chateaux of Old Burgundy: “As one approaches nearer it is easy to see…”

Linked words

through Italian maschera ‘mask’

mask, 2 more

Today it means

noun A carved, ornamental face, either human-like or grotesque, whose alleged function was originally to frighten away evil spirits so that they would not enter the building.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Late Latin mascara / mascaron

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