1. (n.) 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.

2. (n.) That which disguises; a pretext or subterfuge.

3. (n.) A festive entertainment of dancing or other diversions, where all wear masks; a masquerade; hence, a revel; a frolic; a delusive show.

4. (n.) A dramatic performance, formerly in vogue, in which the actors wore masks and represented mythical or allegorical characters.

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

6. (n.) In a permanent fortification, a redoubt which protects the caponiere.

7. (n.) A screen for a battery.

8. (n.) The lower lip of the larva of a dragon fly, modified so as to form a prehensile organ.

9. (v. t.) To cover, as the face, by way of concealment or defense against injury; to conceal with a mask or visor.

10. (v. t.) To disguise; to cover; to hide.

11. (v. t.) To conceal; also, to intervene in the line of.

12. (v. t.) 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.

13. (v. i.) To take part as a masker in a masquerade.

14. (v. i.) To wear a mask; to be disguised in any way.

Kaffeeklatsch aegis affectation air alibi anaglyph apology appearance apply to arm guard aspect backstop bal bal costume bal masque ball barn dance bas-relief becloud befog belie blanket blind block blowout blur boss buffer bulwark bumper cameo cameo glass camouflage canopy cavo-rilievo cloak clothe cloud coat cocktail party coffee klatch color coloring conceal concealment contraceptive cope copyright costume party country dance cover cover story cover up cover-up coverage covering covert coverture cowl cowling crash helmet curtain cushion cut glass dance dashboard defend device dinner dinner party disguise dissemble dissembling dissimulate dissimulation distort distract attention from dodger domino donation party drape drapery dress up eclipse embellish embossment embroider ensconce enshroud entertainment envelop excuse facade face face mask fakery false colors false face false front falsify fancy-dress ball feint fender festivity film finger guard foot guard front fudge fuse garble garden party gild gloss gloss over glyph glyptograph goggles governor guard guardrail guise hand guard handle handrail hanging hard hat helmet hen party hide high relief hood hop house party house-raising housewarming housing incognito insulation intaglio intaglio rilevato intaglio rilievo interlock keep under cover knee guard knuckle guard lame excuse laminated glass lawn party lay on lay over life preserver lifeline lightning conductor lightning rod locus standi low relief mantle masked ball masque masquerade masquerade ball masquerade party medal medallion miscite miscolor misquote misreport misrepresent misstate mixer mudguard muffle muffler mummery nose guard obduce obfuscate obscure occult ostensible motive overlay overspread overstate pad padding pall palladium party patent pervert pilot plaquette poor excuse pose posture pretense pretension pretext preventive prom promenade prophylactic protect protective clothing protective coloration protective umbrella protestation public motive put on put-off put-on record hop refuge relief relievo safeguard safety safety glass safety plug safety rail safety shoes safety switch safety valve screen sculptured glass scum seat belt secrete seeming semblance shade sham shelter shield shin guard shindig shindy show shower shroud simulation slant slur over smoke screen smoker spread over square dance stag stag dance stag party stalking-horse strain