shawabti

American  

[shuh-wab-tee] / ʃəˈwæb ti /

noun

1. 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.

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Etymology

Origin of shawabti

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