mummy

Where does the word "mummy" come from? It comes from Persian mumiya, passing through Arabic and Medieval Latin before entering English (medieval).

Mummy’s story begins in Persian: mumiya meant “bitumen, embalming substance.” Referring to bitumen, a substance associated with embalming. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Arabic as mumiya. Applied to preserved bodies treated with such substances. From there it passed into Medieval Latin as mumia by medieval. 'mumia', powdered embalmed bodies, was sold as medicine in medieval Europe. It reached English by medieval as mummy. Settled as the English word for a preserved corpse. Today, mummy means a body, especially of a human, preserved after death by embalming.

1. Stage 1 · Persian · medieval mumiya "bitumen, embalming substance", referring to bitumen, a substance associated with embalming.
2. Stage 2 · Arabic · medieval mumiya "an embalmed body", applied to preserved bodies treated with such substances.
3. Stage 3 · Medieval Latin · medieval mumia "a preserved body", 'mumia', powdered embalmed bodies, was sold as medicine in medieval Europe.
4. Stage 4 · English · medieval mummy "a preserved, embalmed body", settled as the English word for a preserved corpse.