from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Mason \Ma"son\, n. [F. ma[,c]on, LL. macio, machio, mattio,
mactio, marcio, macerio; of uncertain origin.]
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1. One whose occupation is to build with stone or brick;
also, one who prepares stone for building purposes.
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2. A member of the fraternity of Freemasons. See {Freemason}.
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{Mason bee} (Zool.), any one of numerous species of solitary
bees of the genus {Osmia}. They construct curious nests of
hardened mud and sand.
{Mason moth} (Zool.), any moth whose larva constructs an
earthen cocoon under the soil.
{Mason shell} (Zool.), a marine univalve shell of the genus
{Phorus}; -- so called because it cements other shells and
pebbles upon its own shell; a carrier shell.
{Mason wasp} (Zool.), any wasp that constructs its nest, or
brood cells, of hardened mud. The female fills the cells
with insects or spiders, paralyzed by a sting, and thus
provides food for its larvae
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