mummy

1
[ muhm-ee ]
/ ˈmʌm i /

noun, plural mum·mies.

the dead body of a human being or animal preserved by the ancient Egyptian process or some similar method of embalming.
a dead body dried and preserved by nature.
a withered or shrunken living being.
a dry, shriveled fruit, tuber, or other plant organ, resulting from any of several fungous diseases.

verb (used with object), mum·mied, mum·my·ing.

to make into or cause to resemble a mummy; mummify.

Origin of mummy

1
1350–1400; Middle English mummie < Medieval Latin mummia < Arabic mūmiyah mummy, literally, bitumen < Persian mūm wax

OTHER WORDS FROM mummy

un·mum·mied, adjective

Definition for mummy (2 of 2)

mummy 2
[ muhm-ee ]
/ ˈmʌm i /

noun, plural mum·mies. Chiefly British.

Origin of mummy

2
First recorded in 1815–25; mum4 + -y2

Example sentences from the Web for mummy

British Dictionary definitions for mummy (1 of 2)

mummy 1
/ (ˈmʌmɪ) /

noun plural -mies

an embalmed or preserved body, esp as prepared for burial in ancient Egypt
obsolete the substance of such a body used medicinally
a mass of pulp
a dark brown pigment

Word Origin for mummy

C14: from Old French momie, from Medieval Latin mumia, from Arabic mūmiyah asphalt, from Persian mūm wax

British Dictionary definitions for mummy (2 of 2)

mummy 2
/ (ˈmʌmɪ) /

noun plural -mies

mainly British a child's word for mother 1

Word Origin for mummy

C19: variant of mum 1