serdab
noun
ser·dab
sə(r)ˈdäb
plural -s
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
Word History
Etymology
Arabic sirdāb cellar, underground vault, from Persian sardāb ice cellar, from sard cold + āb water