History of Funeral Service Midterm
Fall 2022
1. Anthropoid: human shaped; some early coffins were described as anthropoidal shaped. A design that gained
popularity because of the influence of Osiris.
2. Coffin: from the Greek word 'kofmos'(H71); utilitarian container designed to hold human remains, often
anthropoidal in shape.
3. Casket: from the French term 'casse' meaning 'jewel box' or container for some- thing valuable; came into dominant
use in patent literature for burial receptacles in 1890's in America. (H274); a rigid container which is designed for the
encasement of human remains and 4 which is usually constructed of wood, metal, fiberglass, plastic, or like material, and
ornamented and lined with fabric. (FTC definition); A case or receptacle in which human remains are placed for
protection, practical utility, and a suitable memory picture; Any box or container of one or more parts in which a dead
human body is placed prior to interment, entombment, or cremation which may or may not be permanently interred,
entombed, or cremated with the dead human remains.
4. Independent Bone Burial: a social development in the middle ages whereby the
bodies of the noble were separated and the bones were brought back to their home in a chest
5. Undertaker: original term applied to those whose occupation included responsi- bility to organize and facilitate
funeral activities; used by some for the term funeral director - originally appeared in the first half of the 19th century
6. Bier: forerunner of today's hearse; a hand stretcher on which the uncoffined body was carried to the grave.
7. Hearse: today, a vehicle specially designed to transport casketed remains; de- rived from French word, herse;
originally a stationary framework of wood to hold candles and decorations placed on the coffin; forerunner was a bier;
hearse and bier were used interchangeably until mid-19th century; aka funeral coach.
8. Natron: a combination of salts found in dry lake beds of the desert and used by early Egyptians in preparation of
bodies. Deceased coveted in the product (sodium chloride, sodium carbonate, sodium sulfate, and potassium nitrate) were
dehydrated thus preventing decay.
1/
, History of Funeral Service Midterm
Fall 2022
9. Necropolis: literally means "city of the dead"; cemeteries located on the west bank of the Nile River, they included
mortuary temples and residences of mortuary workers
10.Trade embalmer: term originated when some of the original graduates of early embalming courses gave up
regular employment with a single firm to provide embalming service to firms which had no trained embalmer.
11.Dr Thomas Holmes: "Father of American Embalming" - His inventions included the hand pump method of
injection; the crash bag/disaster pouch; the disinfecting
2/
Fall 2022
1. Anthropoid: human shaped; some early coffins were described as anthropoidal shaped. A design that gained
popularity because of the influence of Osiris.
2. Coffin: from the Greek word 'kofmos'(H71); utilitarian container designed to hold human remains, often
anthropoidal in shape.
3. Casket: from the French term 'casse' meaning 'jewel box' or container for some- thing valuable; came into dominant
use in patent literature for burial receptacles in 1890's in America. (H274); a rigid container which is designed for the
encasement of human remains and 4 which is usually constructed of wood, metal, fiberglass, plastic, or like material, and
ornamented and lined with fabric. (FTC definition); A case or receptacle in which human remains are placed for
protection, practical utility, and a suitable memory picture; Any box or container of one or more parts in which a dead
human body is placed prior to interment, entombment, or cremation which may or may not be permanently interred,
entombed, or cremated with the dead human remains.
4. Independent Bone Burial: a social development in the middle ages whereby the
bodies of the noble were separated and the bones were brought back to their home in a chest
5. Undertaker: original term applied to those whose occupation included responsi- bility to organize and facilitate
funeral activities; used by some for the term funeral director - originally appeared in the first half of the 19th century
6. Bier: forerunner of today's hearse; a hand stretcher on which the uncoffined body was carried to the grave.
7. Hearse: today, a vehicle specially designed to transport casketed remains; de- rived from French word, herse;
originally a stationary framework of wood to hold candles and decorations placed on the coffin; forerunner was a bier;
hearse and bier were used interchangeably until mid-19th century; aka funeral coach.
8. Natron: a combination of salts found in dry lake beds of the desert and used by early Egyptians in preparation of
bodies. Deceased coveted in the product (sodium chloride, sodium carbonate, sodium sulfate, and potassium nitrate) were
dehydrated thus preventing decay.
1/
, History of Funeral Service Midterm
Fall 2022
9. Necropolis: literally means "city of the dead"; cemeteries located on the west bank of the Nile River, they included
mortuary temples and residences of mortuary workers
10.Trade embalmer: term originated when some of the original graduates of early embalming courses gave up
regular employment with a single firm to provide embalming service to firms which had no trained embalmer.
11.Dr Thomas Holmes: "Father of American Embalming" - His inventions included the hand pump method of
injection; the crash bag/disaster pouch; the disinfecting
2/
