# moustache

> English word · Noun · IPA /məˈstɑːʃ/ · frequency rank #21,288

## Definitions
1. A growth of facial hair between the nose and the upper lip.
2. A curly bracket, { or }.

## Etymology
Used in English since the 16th century. From Middle French moustache from Italian mostaccio, from Early Medieval Latin mustācium, from Byzantine Greek μουστάκιον (moustákion), diminutive of (Doric) Ancient Greek μύσταξ (mústax, “upper lip”), of unknown origin (probably a Pre-Greek substrate). Replaced native English kemp (“moustache”), from Old English cenep.

## Easily confused with
- **mustache** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/moustache-vs-mustache)

## Common misspellings (13)
`mmoustache`, `mosutache`, `mousatche`, `mousstache`, `moustacche`, `moustaceh`, `moustachhe`, `moustahce`, `moustcahe`, `mousttache`, `moutsache`, `muostache`, `omustache`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/moustache