Manger

Origin

Middle English from Old French mangeure, based on Latin manducat- ‘chewed’

• 14th Century

Definition

• 1: a long open box or trough for horses or cattle to eat from.

Description

A manger, or trough, is a feeder that is made of carved stone, wood, or metal construction and is used to hold food for animals (as in a stable). Mangers are mostly used in livestock raising. They are also used to feed wild animals, e.g., in nature reserves. A manger is also a Christian symbol, associated with nativity scenes where Mary, forced by necessity to stay in a stable instead of an inn, used a manger as a makeshift bed for the baby Jesus.

See also

• The Birth of Jesus