MOSQUE: building used for public worship by Muslims
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," "mochy," and "mos'keh," among others - until we settled temporarily 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 chose the present spelling, and "mosques" thus joined other English words related to Muslin 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 for the hour of daily prayer.
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