%mask%

n. A secondary mask, or grotesque interlude, between the parts of a serious mask. [ Written also antimasque. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To mask; to conceal. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A rustic dance, so called in ridicule of the people of Bergamo, in Italy, once noted for their clownishness. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From the city Damascus, L. Damascus, Gr. Damasko`s, Heb. Dammesq, Ar. Daemeshq; cf. Heb. d'meseq damask; cf. It. damasco, Sp. damasco, F. damas. Cf. Damascene, Damassé. ] 1. Damask silk; silk woven with an elaborate pattern of flowers and the like. “A bed of ancient damask.” W. Irving. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Linen so woven that a pattern in produced by the different directions of the thread, without contrast of color. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A heavy woolen or worsted stuff with a pattern woven in the same way as the linen damask; -- made for furniture covering and hangings. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Damask or Damascus steel; also, the peculiar markings or “water” of such steel. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A deep pink or rose color. Fairfax. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Pertaining to, or originating at, the city of Damascus; resembling the products or manufactures of Damascus. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Having the color of the damask rose. [ 1913 Webster ]

But let concealment, like a worm i' the bud,
Feed on her damask cheek. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Damask color, a deep rose-color like that of the damask rose. --
Damask plum, a small dark-colored plum, generally called damson. --
Damask rose (Bot.), a large, pink, hardy, and very fragrant variety of rose (Rosa damascena) from Damascus. “Damask roses have not been known in England above one hundred years.” Bacon. --
Damask steel, or
Damascus steel, steel of the kind originally made at Damascus, famous for its hardness, and its beautiful texture, ornamented with waving lines; especially, that which is inlaid with damaskeening; -- formerly much valued for sword blades, from its great flexibility and tenacity. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Damasked p. pr. & vb. n. Damasking. ] To decorate in a way peculiar to Damascus or attributed to Damascus; particularly: (a) with flowers and rich designs, as silk; (b) with inlaid lines of gold, etc., or with a peculiar marking or “water, ” as metal. See Damaskeen. [ 1913 Webster ]

Mingled metal damasked o'er with gold. Dryde&unr_;. [ 1913 Webster ]

On the soft, downy bank, damasked with flowers. Milton.

{ } v. t. [ F. damaschinare. See Damascene, v. ] To decorate, as iron, steel, etc., with a peculiar marking or “water” produced in the process of manufacture, or with designs produced by inlaying or incrusting with another metal, as silver or gold, or by etching, etc., to damask. [ 1913 Webster ]

Damaskeening is is partly mosaic work, partly engraving, and partly carving. Ure. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. damasquin, adj., It. damaschino, Sp. damasquino. See Damaskeen. ] A sword of Damask steel. [ 1913 Webster ]

No old Toledo blades or damaskins. Howell (1641). [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Pref. dis- + mask: cf. F. démasquer. ] To divest of a mask. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a mask with a filter which protects the face and lungs against poisonous gases. It is used in warfare, and also by police to allow them to effectively use tear gas or other disabling gas to disperse a crowd or force fugitives to leave a building.
Syn. -- respirator, gas helmet. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. t. To cover, as with a mask; to disguise or conceal. [ R. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. masque, LL. masca, mascha, mascus; cf. Sp. & Pg. máscara, It. maschera; all fr. Ar. maskharat buffoon, fool, pleasantry, anything ridiculous or mirthful, fr. sakhira to ridicule, to laugh at. Cf. Masque, Masquerade. ] 1. A cover, or partial cover, for the face, used for disguise or protection; as, a dancer's mask; a fencer's mask; a ball player's mask. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which disguises; a pretext or subterfuge. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A festive entertainment of dancing or other diversions, where all wear masks; a masquerade; hence, a revel; a frolic; a delusive show. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

This thought might lead me through the world's vain mask. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A dramatic performance, formerly in vogue, in which the actors wore masks and represented mythical or allegorical characters. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Arch.) A grotesque head or face, used to adorn keystones and other prominent parts, to spout water in fountains, and the like; -- called also mascaron. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Fort.) (a) In a permanent fortification, a redoubt which protects the caponiere. (b) A screen for a battery. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. (Zool.) The lower lip of the larva of a dragon fly, modified so as to form a prehensile organ. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. A person wearing a mask; a masker.

The mask that has the arm of the Indian queen. G. W. Cable. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

9. (Sporting) The head or face of a fox.

Mask house, a house for masquerades. [ Obs. ] --
Death mask, a cast of the face of a dead person. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Masked p. pr. & vb. n. Masking. ] 1. To cover, as the face, by way of concealment or defense against injury; to conceal with a mask or visor. [ 1913 Webster ]

They must all be masked and vizarded. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To disguise; to cover; to hide. [ 1913 Webster ]

Masking the business from the common eye. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Mil.) (a) To conceal; also, to intervene in the line of. (b) To cover or keep in check; as, to mask a body of troops or a fortress by a superior force, while some hostile evolution is being carried out. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To take part as a masker in a masquerade. Cavendish. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To wear a mask; to be disguised in any way. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Wearing a mask or masks; characterized by masks; concealed; hidden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) Same as Personate. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Zool.) Having the anterior part of the head differing decidedly in color from the rest of the plumage; -- said of birds. [ 1913 Webster ]

Masked ball, a ball in which the dancers wear masks. --
Masked battery (Mil.), a battery so placed as not to be seen by an enemy until it opens fire. H. L. Scott. --
Masked crab (Zool.), a European crab (Corystes cassivelaunus) with markings on the carapace somewhat resembling a human face. --
Masked pig (Zool.), a Japanese domestic hog (Sus pliciceps). Its face is deeply furrowed. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who wears a mask; one who appears in disguise at a masquerade. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To confuse; to stupefy. [ Obs. ] Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The dress or disguise of a masker; masquerade. [ Obs. ] Marston. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The muskellunge. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Zool.) Any spiral marine shell of the genus Persona, having a curiously twisted aperture. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To put off a mask. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]