mascaron
/ˈmæskəˌɹɒn/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 0.00 in modern English
12
Scrabble Score
8
Letters
2
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
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.
Example Sentences
- "As one approaches nearer it is easy to see these round bosses transform themselves into mascarons, or sculptured decorative details, like the escutcheons and plaques so frequently seen stuck into the walls of so many civic edifices in Italy."
Etymology
From French mascaron, from Italian mascherone.
Origin
- Source language: French
Word Breakdown
- Root: mascaron, mascherone