/ sɑːˈkɒfəgəs; NAmE sɑːrˈkɑːf-/ noun
( pl. sar·coph·agi / sɑːˈkɒfəgaɪ; NAmE sɑːrˈkɑːf-/) a stone coffin (= box that a dead person is buried in) , especially one that is decorated, used in ancient times
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : via Latin from Greek sarkophagos flesh-consuming, from sarx , sark- flesh + -phagos -eating.