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maschera

mask

noun MAH-skeh-rah Rare
Arts & Culture Traditions

Origin: Arabic maskhara (buffoon, mockery), via Medieval Latin/Old Italian

Also means

disguise; character (theatre)

Usage Note

Maschera covers a physical mask, a Carnival costume, and the traditional stock characters of the Commedia dell'Arte (e.g. Arlecchino is a maschera). In Italian theatres, maschera also means 'usher'. The verb mascherare means 'to mask/disguise', and in maschera means 'in costume/disguise' at a party.

Examples

"Indossa una maschera di carnevale."

Natural Translation

She is wearing a carnival mask.

Literal Translation

She-wears a mask of carnival.

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