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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
Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 May 2025
On one corner, there’s a 500-year-old mosque, and on another, a Jon & Vinny’s and Randy’s Donuts straight outta LA.
—Jennifer Maas, Variety, 27 May 2025
In the decades that followed, Howard writes, new Ottoman mosques incorporated related elements, including large domes, into their designs.
—Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 24 May 2025
Growing Community Several of EPIC's members live within walking distance from the mosque.
—Caroline Love, NPR, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for mosque
Cite this Entry
“Mosque.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mosque. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
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mosque
noun
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