sə(r)ˈdäb noun
( -s )
Etymology: Arabic sirdāb cellar, underground vault, from Persian sardāb ice cellar, from sard cold + āb water
1. : a narrow chamber of the ancient Egyptian mastaba either concealed or accessible only by a narrow passage and containing a statue of the deceased
2. : a living room in the basement of a house in the Near East that provides coolness during the summer months