shawabti

[shuh-wab-tee]

noun

a figurine placed in an ancient Egyptian tomb to serve as a slave for the soul or as a substitute for the soul in performing forced labor.

Origin of shawabti

1920–25; < Egyptian šwʾbt(y), later known as wšbty literally, answerer; perhaps derivative of šw'b kind of wood

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018