What does "Undertaker" mean?

Ever heard the word "undertaker?" Funeral directors, formerly known as undertakers, have been a necessity since ancient times. In Ancient Egypt and Rome, they were employed by royalty and nobility to prepare deceased individuals for the afterlife. In medieval Britain, the term 'undertaker' originally referred to any individual who performed an undertaking. In time, however, the funeral undertaker was shortened to just 'undertaker', and other professions stopped using the term due to its association with death. Furniture makers and carpenters usually served as undertakers; not only did they build coffins but they could also transport them with their horses and carts if necessary.