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.
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Scotland’s Gleneagles has such surprises as an ice-cream cart and a falconry facility, while Casablanca’s new Royal Mansour is far enough from the local mosque to serve booze on-site.—Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 5 July 2025 Churches, synagogues, temples, mosques — these worldly shells stand as evidence of New York’s long history of diversity and change.—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 27 June 2025 Violent riots erupted across the U.K. after the attack, in which mosques and migrant accommodation were largely targeted.—Callum Sutherland, Time, 27 May 2025 Churches, synagogues and mosques need to open their doors to summer activities for youths and their families; faith institutions must be engaged in their communities and use their pulpits to address the violence.—Otis Moss Iii, Chicago Tribune, 25 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for mosque
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
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