scarab

scar·ab  (skrb)

n.

1. A scarabaeid beetle, especially Scarabaeus sacer, regarded as sacred by the ancient Egyptians.

2. A representation of this beetle, such as a ceramic or stone sculpture or a cut gem, used in ancient Egypt as a talisman and a symbol of the soul. Also called scarabaeus.

---

[French scarabée, from Latin scarabaeus, from Greek karabos, crab, beetle.]

---

scarab

Noun

1. the black dung-beetle, regarded by the ancient Egyptians as divine

2. an image or carving of this beetle [Latin scarabaeus]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

scarab - scarabaeid beetle considered divine by ancient Egyptians scarabaeus, Scarabaeus sacer dung beetle - any of numerous beetles that roll balls of dung on which they feed and in which they lay eggs genus Scarabaeus - type genus of the Scarabaeidae