mask

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Noun 1.3.1 Derived terms 1.3.2 Translations 1.4 Verb 1.4.1 Translations 1.5 References 1.6 Anagrams 2 Swedish 2.1 Etymology 1 2.1.1 Pronunciation 2.1.2 Noun 2.1.2.1 Derived terms 2.2 Etymology 2 2.2.1 Pronunciation 2.2.2 Noun 2.2.2.1 Derived terms

[edit] English

Wikipedia

[edit] Etymology

From Middle French masque from Italian maschera 'mask, disguise' from Mediaeval Latin masca, mascha, mascus 'mask, nightmare, ghost', of uncertain origin. Replaced Old English grīma "mask".

Mediaeval Latin masca, mascha, mascus may represent the merger of two or more words: one related to Old French mascurer 'to blacken, cover the face' (cf. Occitan mascarar, Catalan mascarar), a conflation of a Germanic source (from assumed Frankish *maska, maskra) represented by Old English mæscre 'mesh; discoloration, spot', Old English masc 'net, mesh netting', Old High German māsca 'mesh, ties', all from Proto-Germanic *maskō-, maskr- (“‘mesh’”) from Proto-Indo-European *mezg- (“‘to knit, twist’”), from the practice of wearing mesh netting over the face as a mask to filter air, keeping soot and dust particles from entering the lungs (cf surgical mask, gas mask, etc.), and a stem *maska, mask- 'black' believed to be of Pre-Indo-European origin giving rise to words meaning 'witch, wizard, sorcerer' (cf Old Occitan masco 'witch', Occitan masca 'witch', French masque 'brothel-keeper, witch'); and another perhaps from Arabic مسخرة (maskhara(t)) “buffoon, fool, pleasantry, anything ridiculous” < سخرة (sakhira) “to ridicule, to laugh at”.

• Derived from the -r- form: Italian maschera, Spanish and Portuguese máscara, Dutch masker, English masquerade.
• Derived from the form lacking -r-: German Maske and Swedish mask.^[1]

[edit] Pronunciation

• (RP) IPA: /mɑːsk/
• (US) IPA: /mæsk/

  Rhymes: -ɑːsk

[edit] Noun

mask (plural masks)

1. A cover, or partial cover, for the face, used for disguise or protection.

   a dancer's mask; a fencer's mask; a ball player's mask

2. That which disguises; a pretext or subterfuge.
3. A festive entertainment of dancing or other diversions, where all wear masks; a masquerade; hence, a revel; a frolic; a delusive show - Francis Bacon
   • John Milton:

     This thought might lead me through the world's vain mask.

4. (obsolete) A dramatic performance, formerly in vogue, in which the actors wore masks and represented mythical or allegorical characters.
5. (architecture) A grotesque head or face, used to adorn keystones and other prominent parts, to spout water in fountains, and the like; -- called also mascaron.
6. (fortification) In a permanent fortification, a redoubt which protects the caponiere.
7. (fortification) A screen for a battery
8. (zoology) The lower lip of the larva of a dragon fly, modified so as to form a prehensile organ.
9. (Puebloan anthropology) The ceremonial objects used in Puebloan kachina cults that resemble Euro-American masks. (The term is objected as an appropriate translation by Puebloan peoples as it emphasizes imitation but ignores power and representational intent.)
10. (computing, programming) A pattern of bits used in bitwise operations; bitmask.
11. (computing, graphics) A two-color (black and white) bitmap generated from an image, used to create transparency in the image.

[edit] Derived terms

• death mask
• Mask house, (Obsolete), a house for masquerades
• sleep mask
• unmask

[edit] Translations

[edit] Verb

to mask (third-person singular simple present masks, present participle masking, simple past and past participle masked)

1. (transitive) To cover, as the face, by way of concealment or defense against injury; to conceal with a mask or visor.
   • Shakespeare, Merry Wives of Windsor, IV,vi:

     They must all be masked and vizarded

2. (transitive) To disguise; to cover; to hide.
   • Shakespeare, Macbeth, III-i:

     Masking the business from the common eye

3. (military, transitive) To conceal; also, to intervene in the line of.
4. (military, transitive) To cover or keep in check.

   to mask a body of troops or a fortess by a superior force, while some hostile evolution is being carried out

5. (intransitive) To take part as a masker in a masquerade - Cavendish.
6. (intransitive) To wear a mask; to be disguised in any way - Shakespeare.

[edit] Translations

[edit] References

• Notes:

1. ^ Friedrich Kluge, “Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache” , 22. Auflage, 1989, bearbeitet von Elmar Seebold, ISBN 3-11-006800-1

[edit] Anagrams

• Alphagram: akms
• maks

---

[edit] Swedish

[edit] Etymology 1

From Old Norse maðkr (Old Swedish maþker). Cognate with English mawk, Danish maddike and Finnish matikka.

[edit] Pronunciation

•  audio^{help, file}

[edit] Noun

Inflection for mask	Singular		Plural
common	Indefinite	Definite	Indefinite	Definite
Base form	mask	masken	maskar	maskarna
Possessive form	masks	maskens	maskars	maskarnas

mask c.

1. worm

[edit] Derived terms

• daggmask

[edit] Etymology 2

From French masque < Latin masca. Details: see above, mask.

[edit] Pronunciation

•  audio^{help, file}

[edit] Noun

Inflection for mask	Singular		Plural
common	Indefinite	Definite	Indefinite	Definite
Base form	mask	masken	masker	maskerna
Possessive form	masks	maskens	maskers	maskernas

mask c.

1. mask; a cover designed to disguise or protect the face

[edit] Derived terms

• maskera
• maskerad
• maskering