sar ‧ coph ‧ a ‧ gus /sɑːˈkɒfəɡəs $ sɑːrˈkɑː-/ BrE AmE noun ( plural sarcophagi /-ɡaɪ/) [countable]
[ Date: 1600-1700 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: sarcophagus (lapis) 'stone for making coffins' , from Greek (lithos) sarkophagos 'flesh-eating stone' , from sarx 'flesh' ]
a decorated stone box for a dead body, used in ancient times