Etymology and Names
The name of the village is probably derived from the Aramaic language, ras meaning top and maska meaning drinking stream." The equivalent meaning could be the top of the stream. The geography of the village incites us to favor this meaning more than the equivalent Arabic translating into top of irrigation.
Many believe that Ras Maska's name is also derived from the Syriac word meaning "the ascension and progress." The town maintains an old, 3 km long tunnel called Al-Naqra, which is believed to have been constructed to irrigate the gardens of Tripoli. What appear to be tombs have been found in the area of Al-Khirbeh, and according to local legend the town's land is filled with buried gold jars.
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