Dictionary

mummy en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈmʌm.i/
• /ˈməm.mi/ (South-Asia)
• (UK) audio

Etymology

From Middle English mummie, from Anglo-Norman mumie, from Middle French momie, from Medieval Latin mumia, from Arabic مُومِيَاء (mūmiyāʔ), from Persian مومیا (mumyâ), from موم (mum, “wax”). Doublet of mumijo.

Meanings

1. (countable) An embalmed human or non-human animal corpse wrapped in linen bandages for burial, especially as practised by the ancient Egyptians and some Native American tribes.
   • 1832, Royal Society (Great Britain), Abstracts of The Papers Printed in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, From 1800 to 1830 inclusive, Volume 1: 1800-1814, page 201, […] Mr. Pearson proceeds to give a particular description of the very perfect mummy of an Ibis, which forms the chief subject of the present paper.
   • Many people believed in the curse of the mummy, and soon, the curse had become an accepted part of Tut′s legend. 2008, Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen, Mysteries Unwrapped: The Real Monsters, page 2:
   • Leo was the first to discover what these burdens were. `Great heaven!' he said, `they are corpses on fire!' I stared and stared again - he was perfectly right - the torches that were to light our entertainment were human mummies from the caves! On rushed the bearers of the flaming corpses, and, meeting at a spot about twenty paces in front of us, built their ghastly burdens crossways into a huge bonfire. 1886 October – 1887 January, H[enry] Rider Haggard, She: A History of Adventure, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., published 1887, →OCLC:
   • But, more horrible, I had not failed to note that its purplish gleaming body resembled that of a human being - or of a chrysalis encasing one - or of a mummy! 1930, Sax Rohmer, The Day the World Ended, published 1969, page ii. 17:
2. (broadly, countable) A reanimated embalmed human corpse, as a stock character in horror films.
   • For many, mummies fascinate more than repel. Our horrific connotations lie not so much with the mummy itself, but in associated fears. The mummy serves, of course, as a general reminder of our own mortality and our fear of death, but this alone is not enough to make it a monster. 2007, S. T. Joshi, Icons of Horror and the Supernatural: An Encyclopedia of Our Worst Nightmares, volume 1, page 376:
3. (broadly, countable) Any naturally preserved human or non-human animal body.
   • 'Mummy,' that is pounded ancient Egyptian, is, I believe, a pigment much used by artists, and especially by those of them who direct their talents to the reproduction of the works of the old masters. 1886 October – 1887 January, H[enry] Rider Haggard, She: A History of Adventure, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., published 1887, →OCLC:
4. (archaic, broadly, countable, uncountable) Any naturally preserved human or non-human animal body. (countable, uncountable, now rare) A brown pigment originally prepared from the ground-up remains of Egyptian animal or human mummies mixed with bitumen, etc. ▸ A brown pigment originally prepared from the ground-up remains of Egyptian animal or human mummies mixed with bitumen, etc.
5. (archaic, uncountable) A pulp.
   • You may beat them to a mummy, you may put them upon the rack, you may burn them on a gridiron, […] yet you will never remove them from that innate fidelity […] 1837, Mathew Carey, Vindiciae Hibernicae, page 116:
   • Going up to him, therefore, he laid hold on his lance, and breaking it, began to thresh him so severely, that, in spite of the resistance of his armour, he was almost beaten into mummy […]. 1755, Miguel de Cervantes, translated by Tobias Smollett, Don Quixote, Volume 1, I.4:
   • Imagine twenty thouſand of them breaking into the midſt of an European Army, confounding the Ranks, overturning the Carriages, battering the Warriors Faces into Mummy, by terrible Yerks from their hinder Hoofs. 1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], “The Author’s Veracity. His Design in Publishing this Work. […]”, in Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. […] [Gulliver’s Travels], volume II, London: […] Benj[amin] Motte, […], →OCLC, part IV (A Voyage to the Houyhnhnms), page 345:
6. (historical, uncountable) A substance used in medicine, prepared from mummified flesh.
   • Yet another scatological medicament was obtained from mummy, the material derived from a dried or embalmed human corpse, the most valuable being that imported from Mizraim (ancient Egypt). 1978, Benjamin Walker, Encyclopedia of Metaphysical Medicine, Routledge, page 253:
   • In or near this place is a precious liquor, or mummy, growing, Mumnaky-koobasa they call it, which none presumes to take, it being carefully preserved for the King's sole use. 1634, T[homas] H[erbert], A Relation of Some Yeares Trauaile, Begunne Anno 1626. into Afrique and the Greater Asia, […], London: […] William Stansby, and Jacob Bloome, →OCLC:
   • Nonetheless, his book advertises many Paracelsian remedies, including laudanum, mummy, antimony and mercury. 2006, Philip Ball, The Devil's Doctor, Arrow, published 2007, page 360:
7. (obsolete, uncountable) A sort of wax used in grafting.

Forms

Deriveds

mummy wheat (Terms derived from mummy (embalmed body)) · mummification (Terms derived from mummy (embalmed body)) · mummy nut (Terms derived from mummy (embalmed body)) · corn mummy (Terms derived from mummy (embalmed body)) · mummiform (Terms derived from mummy (embalmed body)) · mummy portrait (Terms derived from mummy (embalmed body)) · mummyish (Terms derived from mummy (embalmed body)) · mummy brown (Terms derived from mummy (embalmed body)) · mummy cloth (Terms derived from mummy (embalmed body)) · mummiology (Terms derived from mummy (embalmed body)) · mummylike (Terms derived from mummy (embalmed body)) · mummia (Terms derived from mummy (embalmed body)) · mummify (Terms derived from mummy (embalmed body)) · mummyology (Terms derived from mummy (embalmed body)) · mummy bag (Terms derived from mummy (embalmed body))

Relateds

corpse

Synonyms

mummy brown · mummy brown

Translations (115)

te మమ్మీ (embalmed corpse) · pms mümia (embalmed corpse) · sc múmmia (embalmed corpse) · vi xác ướp (embalmed corpse) · fur mumie (embalmed corpse) · ce муми (embalmed corpse) · gu મમી (embalmed corpse) · it mummia (embalmed corpse) · ru му́мия (embalmed corpse) · cmn 木乃伊 (embalmed corpse) · fr momie (embalmed corpse) · rm mumia (embalmed corpse) · ka მუმია (embalmed corpse) · es momia (embalmed corpse) · la mumia (embalmed corpse) · da mumie (embalmed corpse) · fo mumia (embalmed corpse) · gd mumaidh (embalmed corpse) · bg му́мия (embalmed corpse) · ar مُومِيَاء (embalmed corpse) · os муми (embalmed corpse) · oc momia (embalmed corpse) · id mumi (embalmed corpse) · ca mòmia (embalmed corpse) · uk му́мія (embalmed corpse) · gl momia (embalmed corpse) · tg мумиё (embalmed corpse) · th มัมมี่ (embalmed corpse) · sk múmia (embalmed corpse) · kn ರಕ್ಷಿತ ಶವ (embalmed corpse) · fi muumio (embalmed corpse) · km ម៉ាំមី (embalmed corpse) · br balzamegenn (embalmed corpse) · an momia (embalmed corpse) · haw iʻaloa (embalmed corpse) · fy mummy (embalmed corpse) · ky мумия (embalmed corpse) · cy mymi (embalmed corpse) · ja ミイラ (embalmed corpse) · my မံမီရုပ်ကလာပ် (embalmed corpse) · bo པུར་ཕུང (embalmed corpse) · sl mumija (embalmed corpse) · eu momia (embalmed corpse) · tl momya (embalmed corpse) · ja 木乃伊 (embalmed corpse) · yo ṣìgìdì (embalmed corpse) · bn মমি (embalmed corpse) · ota مومیا (embalmed corpse) · mn занданшуулсан шарил (embalmed corpse) · arz موميا (embalmed corpse) · de Mumie (embalmed corpse) · ms mumia (embalmed corpse) · tk mumiýa (embalmed corpse) · el μούμια (embalmed corpse) · gv shirgane (embalmed corpse) · mk му́мија (embalmed corpse) · az mumiya (embalmed corpse) · tr mumya (embalmed corpse) · ug مۇمىيا (embalmed corpse) · lt mumija (embalmed corpse) · cs mumie (embalmed corpse) · jv mumi (embalmed corpse) · sw mumiani (embalmed corpse) · ga mumaí (embalmed corpse) · co mummia (embalmed corpse) · csb mùmijô (embalmed corpse) · mr ममी (embalmed corpse) · af mummie (embalmed corpse) · sh му̑мија (embalmed corpse) · sah мумия (embalmed corpse) · ba мумия (embalmed corpse) · ga seargán (embalmed corpse) · kk мумия (embalmed corpse) · lv mūmija (embalmed corpse) · sh mȗmija (embalmed corpse) · ia múmia (embalmed corpse) · hu múmia (embalmed corpse) · dsb mumija (embalmed corpse) · lez мумия (embalmed corpse) · sq mumje (embalmed corpse) · hi मम्मी (embalmed corpse) · is múmía (embalmed corpse) · yue 木乃伊 (embalmed corpse) · or ମମୀ (embalmed corpse) · no mumie (embalmed corpse) · rue мумия (embalmed corpse) · ne मम्मी (embalmed corpse) · uz mumiyo (embalmed corpse) · war momya (embalmed corpse) · es chullpa (embalmed corpse) · io mumio (embalmed corpse) · kn ಮಮ್ಮಿ (embalmed corpse) · grc τάριχος (embalmed corpse) · he מוּמְיָה (embalmed corpse) · nl mummie (embalmed corpse) · ro mumie (embalmed corpse) · mi whakapakoko (embalmed corpse) · pa ਮੰਮੀ (embalmed corpse) · et muumia (embalmed corpse) · ast momia (embalmed corpse) · bua муми (embalmed corpse) · pt múmia (embalmed corpse) · fa مومیا (embalmed corpse) · egy z:a-H-A53 (embalmed corpse) · pl mumia (embalmed corpse) · kum мумия (embalmed corpse) · lld mumia (embalmed corpse) · ta மம்மி (embalmed corpse) · eo mumio (embalmed corpse) · ur ممّی (embalmed corpse) · myv мумия (embalmed corpse) · be му́мія (embalmed corpse) · hy մումիա (embalmed corpse) · ko 미라 (embalmed corpse) · sv mumie (embalmed corpse)

wikipedia: The Louvre

mummy en · VERB · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈmʌm.i/
• /ˈməm.mi/ (South-Asia)
• (UK) audio

Etymology

From Middle English mummie, from Anglo-Norman mumie, from Middle French momie, from Medieval Latin mumia, from Arabic مُومِيَاء (mūmiyāʔ), from Persian مومیا (mumyâ), from موم (mum, “wax”). Doublet of mumijo.

Meanings

1. (dated, transitive) To mummify.

Forms

Deriveds

unmummied

wikipedia: The Louvre

mummy en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈmʌm.i/
• /ˈməm.mi/ (South-Asia)
• (UK) audio

Etymology

From mum + -y (diminutive suffix), related to mom and mommy, from mother.

Meanings

1. (India, New-England, UK, childish, usually) mother.
   • Meeting mummy after this visit was not exactly easy. 1927, Harper's Magazine, volume 155, page 188:
   • “Oh, mummy, would you like the loveliest daughter-in-law in the world? Oh, mummy, I must marry Flora Dewsley. But I know I am not nearly good enough, mummy. She knows nothing of the world and its wickedness, and I — Well, mummy, at school, a fellow learns everything. And no man is perfect, is he, mummy?[…]” 1926, John Steinbeck, The Saturday Evening Post, volume 198, page 9:
   • 2004, Dennis Child, Psychology and the Teacher, Continuum International Publishing, page 91, ‘ […] We have to ask mummy if we can go to Rajah′s mummy′s house (Rajah′s mummy is the owner of the dog). We can if mummy says “yes”. […] ’
   • Darla stared at her father and said, Mummy, Mummy, Mummy! Marjorie wheezed and said, Father. You. Are. Filthy! Joe said Daddy′s muddy! Daddy′s muddy! Darla stared at the darkened doorway where Howard stood, saying, Mummy, Mummy, Mummy, each time a little louder, each time a bit more shrilly,[…]. 2009, Paul Harding, Tinkers, published 2010, unnumbered page:
   • “[…]What′s your problem, you little shit? Proud of yourself, for ruining Mummy′s life?” I was careful to use the insipid falsetto the experts commend. “You′ve got Daddy snowed, but Mummy′s got your number. You're a little shit, aren′t you?″ 2003, Lionel Shriver, We Need to Talk About Kevin, published 2010, unnumbered page:

Forms

Deriveds

scummy mummy · mummyhood · sugar mummy · mummykins · mummydom · mummy makeover · mummyji · mummy track · stepmummy · grandmummy · mummy porn · mummy wars · yummy mummy · mummy daddy · mummy's boy

Translations (76)

vi mẹ (child's term for mother) · nl mama (child's term for mother) · sv mamma (child's term for mother) · da mor (child's term for mother) · cs máma (child's term for mother) · es mamá (child's term for mother) · fa مامان (child's term for mother) · ro mămică (child's term for mother) · ar مَامَا (child's term for mother) · pl mama (child's term for mother) · ar مَامَان (child's term for mother) · cmn 娘 (child's term for mother) · ro măicuță (child's term for mother) · pa ਮੰਮੀ (child's term for mother) · lt mama (child's term for mother) · mk мама (child's term for mother) · sl mama (child's term for mother) · cmn 媽媽 /妈妈 (child's term for mother) · hy մայրիկ (child's term for mother) · de Mutti (child's term for mother) · ta அம்மா (child's term for mother) · lt mamytė (child's term for mother) · hu mama (child's term for mother) · el μαμά (child's term for mother) · et emme (child's term for mother) · no mamma (child's term for mother) · pl mamusia (child's term for mother) · ko 어머니 (child's term for mother) · ru ма́мочка (child's term for mother) · cs maminka (child's term for mother) · pt mamãe (child's term for mother) · hi अम्माँ (child's term for mother) · ja お母さん (child's term for mother) · ms bu (child's term for mother) · ur امی (child's term for mother) · it mamma (child's term for mother) · pt mamã (child's term for mother) · ro mamă (child's term for mother) · lv mamma (child's term for mother) · fo mamma (child's term for mother) · is mamma (child's term for mother) · sh мама (child's term for mother) · sh mama (child's term for mother) · ja ママ (child's term for mother) · sk mama (child's term for mother) · hi माँ (child's term for mother) · th คุณแม่ (child's term for mother) · sa अम्बा (child's term for mother) · ko 엄마 (child's term for mother) · fi äiti (child's term for mother) · hu anya (child's term for mother) · th แม่ (child's term for mother) · hi माताजी (child's term for mother) · de Mami (child's term for mother) · fr maman (child's term for mother) · vo motül (child's term for mother) · ga mamaí (child's term for mother) · uk ма́ма (child's term for mother) · he אִמָא (child's term for mother) · ur اماں (child's term for mother) · ru ма́ма (child's term for mother) · ar أُمِّي (child's term for mother) · bg ма́ма (child's term for mother) · gd màmag (child's term for mother) · ga maime (child's term for mother) · be ма́ма (child's term for mother) · ms ibu (child's term for mother) · vi uây khyếm mẹ (child's term for mother) · ru ма́тушка (child's term for mother) · eo panjo (child's term for mother) · ca mama (child's term for mother) · de Mama (child's term for mother) · ms mak (child's term for mother) · cy mami (child's term for mother) · lv māmiņa (child's term for mother) · sk mamička (child's term for mother)