'anti-masque' originates from English (17th century), combining the prefix 'anti-' from Greek 'anti-' meaning 'against' and 'masque' from French 'masque' meaning 'mask' or a masked entertainment.

'masque' in French comes from Italian 'maschera' (mask) and possibly from Vulgar Latin *masca ('mask, witch'); the compound 'anti-masque' was coined in early modern English theatrical usage to denote the contrasting pre-masque performance and entered literary usage in the 17th century.

Initially it specifically referred to a comic or grotesque prelude placed before a masque in early 17th-century court entertainments; over time it has remained a specialized theatrical term for that contrasting pre-performance.