Definition of menagerie

The word "menagerie" originated from the French language in the 17th century. It comes from the French word "ménagerie," which means "manager's estate" or "household management." However, in the context of animals, the term menagerie first appeared in France during the 16th century when royal families started keeping exotic animals as a sign of their wealth and power. These animals were kept in special quarters within the royal palaces, which were overseen by a manager called the "ménagerien." Over time, the term menagerie came to refer specifically to collections of exotic animals kept for display or entertainment purposes, and it became popular in the 19th century as wealthy landowners, circuses, and zoos began to showcase their collections of animals to the public. Today, the word menagerie is still used to refer to collections of exotic animals kept in zoos, circuses, and private collections. However, its usage has also expanded to mean a collection of miscellaneous things, as the average meaning of "household management" in French has evolved.