Mastaba

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  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.]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

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