mascot

English borrowed "mascot" from French mascotte, which came from Occitan mascòta, meaning "sortilege" or a bit of magic — the feminine diminutive of masca, "witch." That word traces back to Old Occitan masca and Medieval Latin masca, meaning "specter" or "nightmare."

The word began among witches and spectral nightmares, but by the time it settled into French as mascotte and passed into English, its meaning had lightened considerably, into a charm or figure thought to bring good luck.

It's connected to the English word "mask," both tracing back to the same Medieval Latin root, masca.