mastaba

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

mastaba
    n 1: an ancient Egyptian mud-brick tomb with a rectangular base
         and sloping sides and flat roof; "the Egyptian pyramids
         developed from the mastaba" [syn: {mastaba}, {mastabah}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Mastaba \Mas"ta*ba\, n. Also Mastabah \Mas"ta*bah\ . [Ar.
   ma[,c]tabah a large stone bench.]
   1. In Mohammedan countries, a fixed seat, common in dwellings
      and in public places.
      [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

   2. (Egyptology) A type of tomb, of the time of the Memphite
      dynasties, comprising an oblong structure with sloping
      sides (sometimes containing a decorated chamber, sometimes
      of solid masonry), and connected with a mummy chamber in
      the rock beneath.
      [Webster 1913 Suppl.]