From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
Mason
n 1: American Revolutionary leader from Virginia whose
objections led to the drafting of the Bill of Rights
(1725-1792) [syn: Mason, George Mason]
2: English film actor (1909-1984) [syn: Mason, James Mason,
James Neville Mason]
3: English writer (1865-1948) [syn: Mason, A. E. W. Mason,
Alfred Edward Woodley Mason]
4: a craftsman who works with stone or brick [syn: mason,
stonemason]
5: a member of a widespread secret fraternal order pledged to
mutual assistance and brotherly love [syn: Freemason,
Mason]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
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 (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
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Mason \Ma"son\, v. t.
To build stonework or brickwork about, under, in, over, etc.;
to construct by masons; -- with a prepositional suffix; as,
to mason up a well or terrace; to mason in a kettle or
boiler.
[1913 Webster]