mascaron means 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. It carries an Arena rating of 1579, earned across 6 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, mascaron ranks #646 of 17,149 for Most Exacting Words, #961 of 17,127 for Most Vivid Words, #2,261 of 17,131 for Scariest Words, #2,313 of 17,143 for Best Fossil-Poetry Words.
mascaron is pronounced /ˈmæskəˌɹɒn/.
Why “mascaron” is a great word
A carved ornamental face, often grotesque, used as an architectural decoration, originally intended to ward off evil spirits. From French mascaron, from Italian mascherone (augmentative of maschera, "mask"), ultimately from Latin masca ("mask, specter"). Unlike a gargoyle, which is a functional spout carved as a creature to divert rainwater, or a caryatid, which is a full-bodied female figure serving as a supporting column, a mascaron is a pure appliqué of visage, a surface charm. It is the leering stone countenance above a lintel, the tragic comedy mask frozen in plaster on a ceiling rosette, the chipped terracotta grimace staring blindly from a sun-warmed façade—a silent, stationary sentry against misfortune, now merely a relic of forgotten fears.
Etymology
From French mascaron, from Italian mascherone.
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.
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
Words closest in meaning
By meaning, not spelling — each word's AI semantic fingerprint, nearest first.
- antimasque 62% match — A comic or grotesque dance presented before or between the acts of a masque. vs mascaron →
- maskette 61% match — A small mask, especially one that does not cover the whole head. vs mascaron →
- masquerade 60% match — An assembly or party of people wearing (usually elaborate or fanciful) masks and costumes, and amusing themselves with dancing, conversation, or other diversions. vs mascaron →
- facemask 58% match — A covering used to protect or disguise the face.; A diving mask. vs mascaron →
- gargoyle 58% match — A carved grotesque figure on a spout which conveys water away from the gutters. vs mascaron →
- masque 57% match — A dramatic performance, often performed at court as a royal entertainment, consisting of dancing, dialogue, pantomime and song. vs mascaron →
- overmantel 56% match — A decorative structure, usually plasterwork or carved wood, and sometimes containing a mirror, over a mantelpiece. vs mascaron →
- disguising 55% match — A masque or masquerade. vs mascaron →