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