mammet

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English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Middle English mawmet, from Anglo-Norman maumet, shortened form of mauhoumet, mahumet; deriving from Andalusian Arabic مَحُمَّدْ (Maḥummad), ultimately derived from Arabic Muhammad.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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mammet (plural mammets)

  1. (obsolete) A false god; an idol. [13th–17th c.]
    • c. 1521, John Skelton, Speke Parott:
      Moloc that mawmett. there darre no man wt ſay
      The Reſte of ſuche Reconyng may make a fowle fraye
  2. A doll or puppet; a lifeless figure, an effigy, a scarecrow. [from 15th c.]
    • c. 1591–1595 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies [] (First Folio), London: [] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene v]:
      And then to haue a wretched puling foole, / A whining mammet, in her Fortunes tender, / To answer, Ile not wed, I cannot Loue: / I am too young, I pray you pardon me.
    • c. 1591–1595 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies [] (First Folio), London: [] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act HENRY 4-1, scene ii], page 3:
      this is no world / To play with mammets and to tilt with lips
    • 1974, GB Edwards, The Book of Ebenezer Le Page, New York, published 2007, page 49:
      He didn't want to go, and I didn't want him to go; and we stood there like two mommets and there was nothing we could say.
  3. A contemptible person; a weakling, a fool. [from 16th c.]
    • 1792, Thomas Holcroft, Anna St. Ives, vol. V, letter 88:
      Blind, deaf, insensate driveler!—Torpid, blockish, brainless mammet!
    • 1891, Thomas Hardy, Tess of the d'Urbervilles, volume 1, London: James R. Osgood, McIlvaine and Co., page 32:
      "Had it anything to do with father's making such a mommet of himself in the carriage this afternoon?
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Kavalan

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Noun

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mammet

  1. vegetarian diet (for religious reasons)