serdab

noun

ser·​dab

sə(r)ˈdäb

plural -s

1

: a narrow chamber of the ancient Egyptian mastaba either concealed or accessible only by a narrow passage and containing a statue of the deceased

2

: a living room in the basement of a house in the Near East that provides coolness during the summer months

Word History

Etymology

Arabic sirdāb cellar, underground vault, from Persian sardāb ice cellar, from sard cold + āb water

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