from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Mummy \Mum"my\ (m[u^]m"m[y^]), n.; pl. {Mummies}
(m[u^]m"m[i^]z). [F. momie; cf. Sp. & Pg. momia, It. mummia;
all fr. Per. m[=u]miy[=a], fr. m[=u]m wax.]
1. A dead body embalmed and dried after the manner of the
ancient Egyptians; also, a body preserved, by any means,
in a dry state, from the process of putrefaction. --Bacon.
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2. Dried flesh of a mummy. [Obs.] --Sir. J. Hill.
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3. A gummy liquor that exudes from embalmed flesh when
heated; -- formerly supposed to have magical and medicinal
properties. [Obs.] --Shak. --Sir T. Herbert.
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4. A brown color obtained from bitumen. See {Mummy brown}
(below).
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5. (Gardening) A sort of wax used in grafting, etc.
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6. One whose affections and energies are withered.
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{Mummy brown}, a brown color, nearly intermediate in tint
between burnt umber and raw umber. A pigment of this color
is prepared from bitumen, etc., obtained from Egyptian
tombs.
{Mummy wheat} (Bot.), wheat found in the ancient mummy cases
of Egypt. No botanist now believes that genuine mummy
wheat has been made to germinate in modern times.
{To beat to a mummy}, to beat to a senseless mass; to beat
soundly.
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