IN GREEK
μασκαράς
maskaras
rascal, scoundrel; masquerader
IN TURKISH
maskara
maskara
laughing stock, buffoon; mascara
WEAR THE WORD
μασκαράς in blue ink and maskara in red, on a T shirt, a tote or a mug.
THE RECORD
- LENT BY, BORROWED BY
- Turkish to Greek
- STARTED IN
- Arabic
- CATEGORY
- People and family
- HOW THE MEANING DRIFTED
- Greek mostly means a rascal; Turkish means a laughing stock and also mascara.
- NOTES
- Arabic masḫara; possible Italian maschera influence on the Greek carnival sense.
COMMENTS
An editor reads every comment before it appears.
SOURCES
- Nişanyan Sözlük (checked online)
Etymologies are checked against the dictionaries and studies listed. An entry is stamped settled only when both the Greek and the Turkish side have been checked. Research for this ledger was compiled with AI assistance and reviewed by the editors.
HOW TO CITE THIS ENTRY
Gold, K. (ed.) (2026) ‘μασκαράς / maskara’, entry 255, Defter ή Tefteri: a ledger of shared Greek and Turkish words. https://defteritefteri.com/en/w/255-maskaras/. Accessed [day month year].