Mason

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈmeɪsən/

Definitions

1. An individual skilled in building structures using stone or brick is a tradesperson who also may engage in the art of construction and design for various types of projects
2. Someone who works with stone or similar materials to create walls, arches, and buildings is often involved in both the craftsmanship and the overall planning of such constructions
3. A craftsperson specializing in the cutting, shaping, and laying of stone or brick to create durable structures participates in both the physical and artistic elements of construction

Etymology: The English word "mason" arrived from Old French "maçon," a term for a skilled builder in stone. Its immediate ancestor in Medieval Latin was "maciō," which meant a carpenter or bricklayer, so the trade was not originally tied to stone at all. Over the centuries, the Old French and Anglo-Norman forms narrowed toward masonry, and the English spelling and sound shifted through Middle English "masoun" and "machun" before settling into the modern form. The word's origin is uncertain. Its exact Latin source is debated among scholars, and the Late Latin "maciō" is itself of unclear background, so the deepest roots remain obscure. What is clear is that the word passed into English through Norman French, carrying with it a sense of building work that ranged from timber to masonry before the stone trade claimed it.

Synonyms: builder, constructor, craftsman