mascot English · revision 2422

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈmæsˌkɒt/ ''(UK)''; /ˈmæsˌkɑːt/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fr|mascotte|t=sorcerer's charm, good-luck piece]],^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) [[der|oc|mascoto|t=sorcery, charm]],^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) from ''masco'' “witch”,^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995) probably [[der|la-med|masca|t=mask, spectre, witch]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A person or thing supposed to bring luck (1881).^(OED 1989)^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The French word, recorded in 1867, was popularized by Edmond Audran's comic opera ''La Mascotte'', first performed in December 1880,^(AHD)^(Etymonline) and English borrowed it the next year.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995) From a lucky charm the mascot became a symbolic figure adopted by a team or organization,^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary) and in recent use also a person who wears its costume.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1867 – French ''mascotte'' recorded.^(AHD)

+ * 1880 – Audran's opera ''La Mascotte''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1881 – English ''mascot'', a bringer of luck.^(OED 1989)^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person, animal or object adopted by a group, such as a sports team, as a symbol and to bring good luck.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A person in costume portraying an organization's mascot.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mask]]

+ * [[talisman]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}