mascara

Pronunciation

• IPA: /məˈskɑːɹə/ (UK); /ˌmæsˈkæɹə/, /ˌmæsˈkɛɹə/ (US)^[1]

Etymology

It is probably borrowed from Spanish máscara (“mask; stain”),^[2][3][4] from the same source as Italian maschera (“mask”);^[3][2] Merriam-Webster derives it probably from the Italian word directly.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Etymonline gives the earliest sense as a cosmetic for colouring the hair, used originally by actors.^[3]

Semantic evolution

The word narrowed to a preparation for darkening the eyelashes and eyebrows,^[6][4] and today chiefly the eyelashes.^[2][5][1] A verb, to apply mascara, is recorded from 1935.^[6]

Timeline

• 1883 – mascaro, according to Etymonline;^[3] Merriam-Webster dates mascara 1886^[5] and the OED 1890.^[6]
• 1922 – the modern form, according to Etymonline.^[3]
• 1935 – verb.^[6]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. A cosmetic used to darken and thicken the eyelashes.

Verb

1. To apply mascara to.

Word family

• mascaraed

Related words

• mask
• masquerade

References

1. [1] [2] Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. [1] [2] [3] The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Boston: Houghton Mifflin
3. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] Harper, Douglas, Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. [1] [2] Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, New York: Random House
5. [1] [2] [3] Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
6. [1] [2] [3] [4] Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press