(măsˈkŏtˌ, -kət)
noun A person, animal, or object believed to bring good luck, especially one kept as the symbol of an organization such as a sports team.
Word History: A giant strutting bird leading a cheer at the homecoming game may seem a far cry from a witch fashioning a charm or spell, but these two figures are related historically in the development of the word
mascot. Mascot came into English as a borrowing of the French word
mascotte, meaning “mascot, charm.” The English word is first recorded in 1881 shortly after the French word, itself first recorded in 1867, was popularized by the opera
La Mascotte, performed in December 1880. The French word in turn came from the Provençal word
mascoto, “piece of witchcraft, charm, amulet,” a feminine diminutive of
masco, “witch.” This word can probably be traced back to Medieval Latin
masca, “witch, specter.” Thus for all their apparent differences, yesterday's witches and today's cuddly mascots can be seen in the same light, as agents working their respective magic to bring about a desired outcome.
