mascaron 
/'. 
a 
[F., = Sji. 
large musk: 
Mascaron, handle of vase, l ; rench 
design of epoch of Louis XIV. 
> E. male), < L. 
Same as 
(mas'ka-ron), 
i'/ir<iii, < It. maxciit nun; 
tllfil:'-l, II. \ III llt'l'll- 
futiri' art. a human 
face more or less 
grotesque, as of a 
satyr or faun, most 
commonly in re- 
lief, much in use 
among the Ro- 
mans and in the re- 
vived classic styles 
of the sixteenth 
century and later. 
maschet, . and v. 
A Middle English 
form of mash 1 . 
inascherone (mas- 
ke-ro'ne), . [It.: 
see mascaron.'] A 
human or semi- 
human mask, gen- 
erally grotesque in 
character. 
mascle't, a. and w. 
[ME., < OF. mascle 
(usually contr. masle, male, 
masculus, male : see male 1 .} 
Natheles comuneliche hure nioste love Is the monethe 
of Janver, and yn that monethe thei renne fastest of eny 
tyme of the seer bothe mascle and femel. 
MS. Bodl., 540. (Ilalliwett.) 
mascle' 2 (mas'kl), w. [Also maskle; < ME. mas- 
cle, maskel, < OF. mascle, an erroneous form of 
made, F. made, < L. macula, a spot : see macula, 
macule, made, mackle.] If. Same as mackle. 
With-outen mote other mascle of sulpande synne. 
Alliterative Poems (ed. Morris), t 725. 
2. A plate of steel more or less lozenge-shaped, 
used in making scale-armor 
and similar garments of fence. 
3. In her., a bearing in the 
form of a lozenge perforated , iff. )* 
or voided so that the field ap- 
pears through the opening. 
This bearing is never charged 
with any other. Also made. 
mascled (mas'kld), a. [< mas- 
de? + -ed%.] Exhibiting or formed of mas- 
cles, or lozenge-shaped plates. Also maclcc. 
MfLSCled armor, armor showing, in the contemporary 
representations, lozenge-shaped divisions, and plates ap- 
parently not overlapping. 
masclelesst, a. [ME. 
mascelles, maskelles; < 
mascle^ + -few.] Spot- 
less ; immaculate. 
lllcl soldi' alle his gond 
bothe wolen and lynne, 
To bye hym a perle [that] 
watz mascellez. 
Alliterative Poems (ed. 
1 Morris), i. 781. 
"Matkelles," quoth that 
myry quene, 
" Vnblemyst I 
-. 
Mascled Ammr, nth century. 
am wyth- 
outen blot." 
Alliterative Poems (ed. 
[Morris), L 780. 
mascot (mas'kot), . 
[Also mascotte;'< F. mascotte, in gamblers' slang 
a luck-piece, fetish, talisman.] A thing sup- 
posed to bring good luck to its possessor; a 
person whose presence is supposed to be a 
cause of good fortune. [Recent.] 
It is even fashionable to talk about mascots * maxcnt 
being an object, animate or inanimate, that contributes 
to the good fortune of its possessor. 
Pop. Sci. Mo., XXX 121. 
mascular (mas'ku-lar), a. In hot., relating to 
stamens: same as male and Hiaxculiiie. 
masculatet (mas'ku-lat), r. (. [< LL. maxrii- 
latux, male, < L. iiiiini'iilnx, masculine, male: see 
male' 1 .] To make manly or strong. Bailey. 
mascule (mas-ku-la'), a. [Heraldic F.: see 
iiiiiti'Hlii.] Same as ninxi-nlii Cross mascule, a 
cross composed nf mascles reaching the edge of the es- 
cutcheon, (Uttering from a crews of mascles, which does not 
extend to the edge. 
masculiflorous (mas'ku-li-flo'rus), a. [< L. 
iiHixriiliix. male, + flos (flor-), flower.] Having 
male flowers. 
masculine (mas'ku-lin), a. and . [< ME. uui-'- 
culi/n = F. MMDMH = Sp. Pg. It. masculine, 
< L. (."(//' M,X, male, masculine, in gram, of 
the masculine gender, < /.;</('*. male: see 
maxi-li -l, )(^(-l.] I. '(. It. Male: opposed to 
ft- male. 
Tht mascidttn children : thnt is to si-yn. thi sones. 
Chaucer, Boothius, ii. prose 3. 
3645 
2. Having tlie distinguishing characteriMi.-s 
'<( the male sex among human beings, phvM 
cal or mental; pertaining to a man or to men; 
of manlike quality: opposed to feminine: as, 
the Hiiisi-iilnii element of society; uium-iilim- 
spirit or courage. 
Seditious tumults and seditious fames differ no more 
but as brother and sister, masculine and feminine. 
Bacon, Seditious and Trouble) (ed. 1887). 
(live her a spirit masculine and noble, 
Fit for yourselves to ask and me to otter. 
Beau, and PL, Thierry and Theodoret, iv. 1. 
Queen Anne, your mother, a lady of a great and mascu- 
line mind. Sir U. Wotton, Panegyric oil King Charles 1., 
[Kenialiis, p. 144. (Latham.) 
Adam's Speech abounds with Thoughts which are 
equally moving, but of a more Masculine and elevated 
Turn. Addison, Spectator, }'o. 888. 
I half suspect that her womanly strength was veined 
with one masculine weakness, the solemn conviction that 
any slight ailment was the onset of deadly disease. 
N. A. Set., CXLIII. 331). 
3. As applied derogatively to women, unwo- 
manly; bold; forward: as, her manners are 
coarse and masculine; she has a masculine air or 
stride. 4. Suitable for the male sex; adapted 
to or intended lor the use of males : as, mascu- 
line garments. 
Bat this my masculine usurp'd attire. 
Shalt., T. Ji.,v. 1. 257. 
A masculine church (women being interdicted the en- 
trance thereof) to the memory of St Augustine. Fuller. 
5. In gram., belonging to or having the char- 
acteristics of that one of the so-called genders 
into which the nouns, etc., of some languages 
are divided which includes as its prominent 
part the names of male beings ; having inflec- 
tions or forms belonging to such words: as, 
a masculine noun; a masculine termination. 
See gentler. By statute in England and many of the 
Tutted States, words of the masculine gender used in the 
general statutes include females unless the contrary in- 
tent appear. Abbreviated m. and masc. 
6. In hot., relating to stamens : same as male 1 , 2. 
Masculine cesura. See cesura. Masculine num- 
bers, odd numbers. Masculine rlmeB. Same aa male 
rimes (which see, under mofei, a.). Masculine signs, in 
astrol., the first, third, tilth, etc. , signs of the zodiac. = Syn. 
Male, Masculine, Mannish, Manly, Manful, Virile, Gentle- 
manly. (See comparison under feminine.) Male, matching 
j< iii'i'lr, applies to the whole sex among human beings and 
gender among animals, to the apparel of that sex, and, 
by figure, to certain things, as plants, rimes, cesuras, 
screws, joints. Masculine, matching feminine, applies to 
men and their attributes and to the first grammatical 
gender : a woman may wear male apparel and have a 
mascidine walk, voice, manner, temperament. Mannish, 
not closely matching womanish, applies to that which 
is somewhat like man, as when a boy gets a mannish 
voice, and to that in woman which is too much like man 
to be womanly. (See quotations under mannish.) Manli/, 
matching womanly, is the word into which have been 
gathered the highest conceptions of what is noble in man 
or worthy of his manhood, especially as opposed to that 
which is fawning or underhand. Manful expresses the 
stanchness, fearlessness, and energy of a man, as opposed 
to that which is weak, cowardly, or supine. Virile has 
lost much of its suggestion of the qualities of a man ; ft 
is generally used in expression of the notion of energy or 
strength. Gentlemanly has a cheaper sense, expressing 
the practice of the merely external courtesies, but it Is also 
a high word for the possession of a manly refinement 
both of nature and of manners. 
II. . (a) In gram., the Masculine gender; 
(fc) a word of this gender, 
masculinely (mas'Ku-lin-li), adv. In the mas- 
culine manner; like a man. [Rare.] 
Aurelia 
Tells me you've done most masctdinely within, 
And played the orator. B. Jonson, Catiline, lit a 
masculineness (mas'kn-lin-nes), n. The qual- 
ity or state of being masculine : manlikeness in 
qualities or character. 
masculinity (mas-ku-lin'i-ti), w. [= Sp. mas- 
fiilinidad; as masculine + -ity.~] The quality of 
being masculine; masculine character or traits. 
masculonuclear (mas ' ku - 16 - nu ' kle - Br), a. 
[< masciiloiiucle(us) + -r3.] Of or pertaining 
to a masoulonucleus. 
masculonucleus (mas'ku-16-nu'kle-us), .; pi. 
masculoHiidei (-i). [NL.,< L. masculus, male, + 
nucleus, nucleus.] In embryol., the male nu- 
cleus; the masculine as distinguished from the 
feminine'productof an original undifferentiated 
generative nucleus, when it has become bisex- 
ual : opposed to. feminonudeits. A. Hyatt. 
masculy (mas'kfi-li). a. [Heraldic F. masculr 
(< 'mascule for mascle), ult. < L. maculatus, spot- 
ted: see ;.<('/>'-. iiiiiculate.'] In her.: (a) Cov- 
ered with niasdes: having the whole space 
c upied with mascles. A field masculy is usually 
of two colors only, the alternate mascles being, for In- 
stance, argent on a field gules, and gules on a neld argent. 
(6) Opened with a l"/eiii;e-shaped or diagonally 
square opening, as a cross or other ordinary. 
Alsci niiisi'iili', 
mash 
Masdevallia (mas-de-vari-tt), w. [ML. (Kui/. 
and Pavon, I7!I4), named after J. Mamleral, a 
Spanish botanist.] A genus of orchids of the 
tribe J'^iiilendrea- and the subtribe Pleurothal- 
/' " . It has two pollen-masses ; the sepals spread at the 
base, or approach each other to form a tube, being pro- 
duced at the apex Into long narrow tips or tails. The 
ure small epiphytes, with creeping rootstocks, and 
stems bearing one coriaceous leaf, which tapers Into a long 
prtiolf. Tile peduncle rises from the membranous sheath 
which surrounds the petiole, and bean one or many 
lo.i-.i-ly clustered flowers, which are of medium size, have 
very small petals, and are beautifully marked and col- 
ored. There are more than 125 species, growing in tropical 
America a* far as Peru and Mexico ; many are cultivated 
for the singularity and beauty of their flowers. M. 
Chimccra has been called the gpectral-Jtvwered orchid. 
maset, f and w. An obsolete spelling of maze 1 . 
masednesst, . A variant of mazcdness. Chau- 
cer. 
maselint, See maslin'i. 
masert, " An obsolete form of mazer. 
maser-tree, See mazer-tree. 
mash 1 (mash), . [Formerly also mesa, whence 
by corruption mess (see mess 1 ); < ME. ntasche, 
ma,ike, < AS. *<, transposed "max (in comp. 
indxwyrt, mash-wort) = North Fries, mask, 
grains, mash, = MHG. mcixch, mash, also mead, 
u. meueli, meische, maisch, mash (of malt), = 
Sw. mask, dial, mast = Dan. maxk, grains, 
mash. The noun appears to be older than the 
verb, and to be connected witli mix, AS. mis- 
dan (see mix) ; but some confusion with other 
words seems to have taken place. Cf. mash*, 
v. Hence wish-mash.] 1. A mixture or mass 
of ingredients beaten or stirred together in a 
promiscuous manner; especially, a mess of 
bran and grain, or of meal, stirred with boiling 
water, or a mixture of boiled turnips and bran, 
etc., for feeding farm stock. 
Ill give him a mash presently shall take away this diz- 
ziness. B. Jongon, Bartholomew Fair, iv. X 
"I do wonder if Peter will give Kosy her warm mash 
to-night ? " she thought, uneasily. 
Harper's May., LXXVIII. 748. 
2. Softness produced by beating or bruising; 
a pulpy state or condition: in the phrase all to 
mnuli, or all to a maali. 
Hold thy hand, hold thy hand, said Robin Hood, 
And let our quarrel fall ; 
For here we may thrash our bones all to mash, 
And get no coin at all. 
Ballad of liobin Hood and the Tanner. (Sares.) 
3. In brewimj and distilling, a mixture of ground 
grain, malted or otherwise prepared, and water. 
The mixture of the quantity of malt required for one 
grist Is the mash. Thausing, Beer (trans.X p. 412. 
4t. A mess, mixture, or jumble; confusion; 
disorder; trouble. 
I have made a fair mash on 't. 
B. Jonson, Every Man in his Humour, iv. t>. 
I doubt mainly I shall be 1* th' mash too. 
Beau, and Fl., Captain, iii. 3. 
5. [< mashl, t: t., 2.] A double-headed hammer 
for breaking coals. Scotch Miuiny Terms, in 
N. and Q., 7th ser., VI. 264. 6. [< mash*, v. t., 
3.] One who gains the affection or sentimen- 
tal admiration of another: as, he is evidently 
her mttxli. [Recent slang. ] 
mash 1 (mash), v. [Formerly also mesh, meash ; 
Sc. alsownsfc; < ME. mashen, maschcn, meschen, 
mash, = Q. meischen, mash, stir, mix. = Sw. 
ntfiske, mix, = Dan. ma'xke, mash, fatten pigs 
with grains; appar. from the noun. Cf. Gael, 
and Ir. masg, mix, infuse, steep. The word 
may have been partly confused with OF. 
mascher, F. mdcher, chew: see masticate. Smash 
is a diff. word.] I. tninx. 1. To make a mash 
of by infusing or steeping in water, as malt in 
brewing. 
Their common drinke Is Mead, the poorer sort vse water, 
and a third drinke called (Jualfe, which Is nothing else (as 
we say) bat water turned out of his wits, with a little 
branne mrathed with it UaUuyt's Voyages, L 496. 
2. To press or beat into a confused mass ; crush 
by beating or pressure : as, to mash apples in a 
mill. 
(Let] there be yokes of fresh and new-laid eggs, bofl'd 
moderately hard, to be mlngl'd and mash'd with the mus- 
tard, oyl and vinegar. Knelyn, Acetaria. 
Master Peter mashed the potatoes with incredible vig- 
our. DicJtens, Christmas Carol, 111. 
3. To gain the affection or sentimental admi- 
ration of (one of the opposite sex). See masher, 
3. [Recent slang.]_To be mashed on, to chertah 
an affection or sentimental regard for. [Recent slang.] 
He mu mashed on fair Finette, 
From the moment he first met her. 
Philadelphia Times, Feb. 19, 1888. 
= Svn. a. Crush, etc. See doth. 
II. i nt run.--. To act furiously ; be violent : as, 
to go mashiny around. 
