Etymology Map
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Menagerie

3 stages from French to English.

Today it means a collection of wild animals kept for exhibition

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

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

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.