Mascot Comes From a Word for a Witch
A mascot is a lucky charm or figure. The word arrived from Provençal by way of a popular French opera.
A mascot is a person, animal or object believed to bring luck. The word entered English through entertainment: Edmond Audran's 1880 operetta *La Mascotte* was a hit across Europe, and the Provençal *masco*, a witch or sorceress, came with it. The sporting mascot in a costume is a twentieth-century development.
- A lucky figure. *The team mascot.*
- A costumed character. *A club mascot.*
- A lucky object. *Carried as a mascot.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | mascot | A furry mascot. |
| Plural | mascots | Rival mascots. |
| Related | masco | Provençal *masco*. |
| Related | talisman | A lucky talisman. |
| Related | amulet | A protective amulet. |
How it is used in a sentence
- The club mascot leads the team out.Sport.
- The word came from a French operetta.1880.
- Provençal *masco* means a witch.The original sense.
Lucky objects
- Mascot — brings luck to a group
- Talisman — attracts good fortune to its holder
- Amulet — wards off harm
- Charm — any lucky object, from a word meaning a song or spell
- Fetish — an object credited with power
From French *mascotte*, from Provençal *masco*, a witch or sorceress. Popularised by Audran's operetta in 1880.
Where does the word come from?
From Provençal *masco*, a witch, reaching English through a French operetta of 1880 called *La Mascotte*.
Mascot or talisman?
A mascot usually belongs to a group and appears publicly. A talisman is personal and thought to attract fortune.