ˈmaˌskät, ˈmaaˌ-, -_skət noun
( -s )
Etymology: French mascotte, from Provençal mascoto charm, sorcery, from masco witch, from Medieval Latin masca, mascha witch, specter
1. : a person or thing held to bring good luck ; specifically : amulet
mascots made of coral, jade …, and silver were worn — Diana Hawthorne
— compare hoodoo
2.
a. : something regarded as a cherished emblem or symbol (as of a group or institution)
had a mountain lion as a mascot
their mascot was a gamecock — F.V.W.Mason
b. chiefly Britain : a radiator ornament on an automobile
made him adopt a fireman and his hose as a mascot for his … car — David Masters
3.
a. : a girl or other person usually enjoying general favor or affection adopted by a team, regiment, or other group as a cherished symbolic figure
chosen mascot of the … football team for two years — Amarillo (Texas) Sunday News-Globe
b. : a small boy chosen to accompany a team to its contests, typically wearing its uniform, and usually obliged to perform such chores as tending bats or fetching water ; specifically : the bat boy of a baseball team