Mascara
/mæsˈkɑːrə/noun
A cosmetic used to darken, lengthen, or thicken the eyelashes.
Did you know?Mascara entered English through Spanish/Italian forms tied to masking and darkening, which is why its history feels more like concealment than cosmetics.
Etymological Timeline
16th Century
Italian
maschera
“mask; disguise”
16th Century
Spanish
máscara
“mask; black stain or smudge”
16th–17th Century
Portuguese
máscara
“mask; disguise”
19th Century
French
mascara
“cosmetic for darkening the eyelashes”
Late 19th Century
English
mascara
“eyelash cosmetic”