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mascot

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The definition of a mascot is a good luck symbol, especially for a team.

(noun)

An example of a mascot is Mr. Met for the New York Mets.

See mascot in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

any person, animal, or thing supposed to bring good luck
any person, animal, or thing adopted by a group, esp. a sports team as a symbol or for good luck: the team's mascot is a bear

Origin: Fr mascotte < Prov mascot, dim. of masco, sorcerer (< ?): in pop. use, after La Mascotte (1880), operetta by E. Audran (1840-1901), Fr composer

See mascot in American Heritage Dictionary 4

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.

Origin:

Origin: French mascotte, sorcerer's charm, mascot

Origin: , from Provençal mascoto, sorcery, fetish

Origin: , from masco, witch

Origin: , ultimately from Medieval Latin masca, mask, specter, witch

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.

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