Masquerader
/ˌmæskəˈreɪdər/noun
A person who wears a mask or costume, especially at a masquerade or in disguise.
Did you know?Masquerade comes through French from Italian maschera, a word long tied to masks, disguise, and public transformation—why it still feels like a ritual of becoming someone else.
Etymological Timeline
Late Middle English
English
masquerader
“a person who takes part in a masquerade or appears in disguise”
16th Century
French
mascarade
“a masked dance, pageant, or disguise performance”
15th Century
Italian
maschera
“mask; disguise”
Late Medieval Latin
Latin
masca
“specter, witch, or nightmare; later associated with mask-like disguise”
Origin uncertain, possibly pre-Latin
Unknown
masca
“a dark or frightening being, later connected with masks and disguise”
Explore more surprising origins