Maquette definition

a preliminary model or sketch used in preparation for making a sculpture
- 1993: His presence would be an affront to my body; so, for it, there would be the rare delight of extinguishing an imperfect and distressed version of itself, a prototype, a maquette. — Will Self, My Idea of Fun

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From macchietta ‘speck, little spot’, diminutive of macchia ‘spot’, ultimately from maculare ‘spot, stain, maculate’.