mummy
UK: ˈmʌmi | US: ˈmʌmi
n. a body of a human or animal that has been preserved by embalming, especially in ancient Egypt
n. (British informal) a child's term for "mother"
mummy = mum<wax> + y<noun suffix>
- mum: Derived from Medieval Latin mumia, from Arabic mūmiyā (مومياء), meaning "embalmed body" or "bitumen/wax" (used in preservation).
- y: A noun-forming suffix in English, often indicating a state or quality.
Etymology Origin:
The word "mummy" traces back to Arabic mūmiyā, referring to the wax-like substance (bitumen) used in ancient embalming practices. Over time, it came to denote the preserved bodies themselves. The informal British use for "mother" (19th century) is unrelated, stemming from childish reduplication ("mum").
The museum displayed an Egyptian mummy wrapped in linen.
Scientists used CT scans to study the mummy without damaging it.
"Mummy, can I have a biscuit?" the child asked.
The mummy's sarcophagus was intricately carved with hieroglyphs.
Legends claimed the mummy would curse anyone who disturbed its tomb.