Scarab

3 definitions found

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

  Scarab \Scar"ab\, Scarabee \Scar"a*bee\, n. [L. scarabaeus; cf.
     F. scarab['e]e.]
     1. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of lamellicorn beetles
        of the genus {Scarabaeus}, or family {Scarabaeidae},
        especially the sacred, or Egyptian, species ({Scarabaeus
        sacer}, and {Scarabaeus Egyptiorum}).


        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Egyptian Archaeology, Jewelry) A stylized representation
        of a scarab beetle carved in stone or faience, or made in
        baked clay, usually in a conventionalized form in which
        the beetle has its legs held closely at its sides, and
        commonly having an inscription on the flat underside; -- a
        symbol of resurrection, used by the ancient Egyptians as
        an ornament or a talisman, and in modern times used in
        jewelry, usually by engraving the formalized scarab design
        on cabuchon stones. Also used attributively; as, a scarab
        bracelet [a bracelet containing scarabs]; a ring with a
        scarab [the carved stone itelf].
        [1913 Webster +PJC]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  scarab
       n : scarabaeid beetle considered divine by ancient Egyptians
           [syn: {scarabaeus}, {Scarabaeus sacer}]

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  26 Moby Thesaurus words for "scarab":
     amulet, charm, fetish, fylfot, gammadion, good-luck charm, hoodoo,
     juju, love charm, lucky bean, lucky piece, madstone, mascot,
     mumbo jumbo, obeah, periapt, philter, phylactery, scarabaeus,
     scarabee, sudarium, swastika, talisman, veronica, voodoo, whammy