Mumia
/ˈmjuː.mi.ə/noun
A term historically used for bitumen, medicinal mummy material, or a substance made from preserved human remains.
Did you know?In medieval and early modern Europe, *mumia* became the name for a supposed healing substance linked to Egyptian mummies, a grisly example of how trade, medicine, and superstition fused into one word.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Persian
Persian
mūm
“Bitumen or wax-like pitch”
Ancient Arabic
Arabic
mūmiyāʾ
“Bitumen, asphalt, or a medicinal substance thought to have healing power”
Medieval Latin
Latin
mumia
“Bitumen; later, a medicinal substance associated with embalmed bodies”
Middle French
French
momie
“A mummy or mummy substance used in medicine”
14th-16th Century
English
mummie
“A medicinal preparation made from mummies or mummy-like material”
Modern English
English
mumia
“A historical or specialized term for mummy-related medicinal material or bitumen”