mosque

noun

ˈmäsk 

: a building used for public worship by Muslims

Did you know?

Mosques were known to the English-speaking world long before we called them mosques. In the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries, we used many different variations of the word—moseak, muskey, moschy, mos’keh, among others—until we finally hit on mosquee, emulating Middle French. The Middle French word had come by way of Italian and Old Spanish from the Arabic word for "temple," which is masjid. In the early 1700s, we settled on the present spelling, and mosque thus joined other English words related to Muslim worship: mihrab, for the special niche in a mosque that points towards Mecca; minaret, for the tall slender tower of a mosque; and muezzin, for the crier who, standing in the minaret, calls the hour of daily prayers.

Examples of mosque in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But Modi could find a way to activate latent Hindu nationalism with a fresh issue or a specific conflict, most notably over further demands to seize and dismantle the mosques adjacent to temples in sacred Hindu cities such as Mathura and Varanasi. —Pratap Bhanu Mehta, Foreign Affairs, 14 June 2024

The most symbolically significant seat lost may be in Ayodhya, where earlier this year Modi presided over the opening of the Ram Mandir, a massive and controversial new Hindu temple built on the site of a historic mosque torn down by a Hindu nationalist mob in 1992. —Joshua Keating, Vox, 4 June 2024

And in Britain, people have been visiting Hindu temples, as well as mosques and churches, to offer prayers for Mr. Modi’s electoral success, said Neil Lal, the chairman and president of the Indian Council of Scotland and the United Kingdom. —John Yoon, New York Times, 30 May 2024

Norman Weiss Orinda ‘War on Hamas’ doesn’t reflect Israel’s intent For over seven months, Israel has bombed residential apartment buildings, schools, hospitals, mosques and other civilian targets in Gaza. —Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 14 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

earlier mosquee, from Middle French, from Old Italian moschea, from Old Spanish mezquita, from Arabic masjid temple, from sajada to prostrate oneself, worship

First Known Use

1585, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

mosque

noun

ˈmäsk 

: a Muslim place of worship