death mask

American  

noun

1. a cast taken of a person's face after death.

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death mask British  

noun

1. a cast of a person's face taken shortly after death Compare life mask

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Etymology

Origin of death mask

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

King Tut was famously discovered with his face sheathed in a gold death mask that weighed over 20 pounds.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

His death mask is held at Moyse Hall and Norwich Castle.

From BBC • Apr. 22, 2025

It appeared so lifelike that the effect was unsettling, as if I were looking at Bradford look at his own death mask.

From New York Times • Apr. 19, 2023

“She had the death mask of her mother.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 10, 2023

With this costume, he wore the death mask and one of papa’s discarded derbies cocked on his head.

From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith