— catacumbal /kat'euh kum"beuhl/ , adj.
/kat"euh kohm'/ , n.
1. Usually, catacombs . an underground cemetery, esp. one consisting of tunnels and rooms with recesses dug out for coffins and tombs.
2. the Catacombs , the subterranean burial chambers of the early Christians in and near Rome, Italy.
3. an underground passageway, esp. one full of twists and turns.
[ bef. 900; ME catacombe, OE catacumbe catacumbas (acc. pl.); of disputed orig.; perh. katakýmbas, equiv. to kata- CATA- + kýmbas, acc. pl. of KÝMBE hollow, cup ]