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

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!