- Mason bee
- Mason Ma"son, n. [F. ma[,c]on, LL. macio, machio, mattio,
mactio, marcio, macerio; of uncertain origin.]
[1913 Webster]
1. One whose occupation is to build with stone or brick;
also, one who prepares stone for building purposes.
[1913 Webster]
2. A member of the fraternity of Freemasons. See {Freemason}. [1913 Webster]
{Mason bee} (Zo["o]l.), any one of numerous species of solitary bees of the genus {Osmia}. They construct curious nests of hardened mud and sand.
{Mason moth} (Zo["o]l.), any moth whose larva constructs an earthen cocoon under the soil.
{Mason shell} (Zo["o]l.), 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} (Zo["o]l.), 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 larv[ae] [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
