sarcophagus

[sahr-kof-uh-guhs]

noun

plural

sarcophagi, sarcophaguses 

1. a stone coffin, especially one bearing sculpture, inscriptions, etc., often displayed as a monument.

2. Greek Antiquity.,  a kind of stone thought to consume the flesh of corpses, used for coffins.

sarcophagus

/ sɑːˈkɒfəɡəs /

noun

1. a stone or marble coffin or tomb, esp one bearing sculpture or inscriptions

Word History and Origins

Origin of sarcophagus¹

1595–1605; < Latin < Greek sarkophágos, noun use of the adj.; sarcophagous

Word History and Origins

Origin of sarcophagus¹

C17: via Latin from Greek sarkophagos flesh-devouring; from the type of stone used, which was believed to destroy the flesh of corpses

Related Words

• crate