menagerie

Where does the word "menagerie" come from? It comes from French ménage, passing through French before entering English (1710s).

Menagerie’s story begins in French: ménage meant “household.” A household, from Latin 'mansio', dwelling. Within French, it grew into ménagerie by 1600s. First a place for managing farm animals; Louis XIV's exotic menagerie at Versailles gave it its famous sense. It reached English by 1710s as menagerie. Taken up for private and travelling animal shows. Today, menagerie means a collection of wild animals kept for exhibition.

1. Stage 1 · French · medieval ménage "household", a household, from Latin 'mansio', dwelling.
2. Stage 2 · French · 1600s ménagerie "animal collection", first a place for managing farm animals; Louis XIV's exotic menagerie at Versailles gave it its famous sense.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1710s menagerie "collection of wild animals", taken up for private and travelling animal shows.