maumet

noun

mau·​met

ˈmȯmə̇t

plural -s

1

obsolete : a false god or idol

2

now dialectal British

a

: an odd figure : puppet, effigy, image, doll

—used also as a generalized term of abuse or contempt

b

: scarecrow

3

archaic : a fancy pigeon with dark eyes and white or creamy feathers

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old French mahommet, from Mahommet Muhammad †a.d. 632 Arabian prophet and founder of Islam; from a medieval belief that Muslims worshiped images of Muhammad

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