Etymologically
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mascotte

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /mas.kɔt/[1]

Forms

mascotte f (plural mascottes)[1]

Etymology

It is a late borrowing (1867) of Provençal mascoto (“spell, bewitchment at gambling”) (before 1850),[2][3][4][5] a derivative of Occitan masco (“witch”), from Old Occitan masca (1396), a word of pre-Romance origin according to Rey (compare masque);[3][1] Bloch and Wartburg relate it to the “masca” of the Lombard laws.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Zola's Les Mystères de Marseille (1867) is the first record.[2][5]

Semantic evolution

Audran's operetta La Mascotte (1880) spread the word, for a person, animal or object thought to bring luck: la mascotte du régiment.[3][4][6] In slang it once meant a virgin, thought to bring luck to a first partner (Verlaine has it for a young girl, 1893).[3][7] For unknown reasons it is also a round sponge cake covered with coffee cream.[3][6] English mascot was taken from French in 1881.[8]

Timeline

  • 1867 – In Zola.[2]
  • 1880 – Audran's La Mascotte.[3]
  • 1881 – English mascot.[8]
  • 1893 – “Young girl”, in Verlaine.[7]
  • 1963 – A cake.[6]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A mascot, lucky charm: la mascotte d'un club sportif.[9][1]
  2. (cooking) A sponge cake covered with coffee buttercream.[6][3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b c Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  5. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  6. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  7. ^ a b Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
  8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  9. ^ Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert