What does manger mean?
A manger is a trough or box in which animals are given fodder such as hay. Its best-known use is in descriptions of the stable at Christ’s birth, where the infant Jesus is traditionally said to have lain in a manger because no ordinary accommodation was available. In modern usage, the word therefore evokes both an agricultural feeding place and a central image of the Nativity. The religious association often gives the word a gentle, traditional, and seasonal character, particularly in Christmas carols, church displays, and children’s stories. When used literally, however, a manger is simply one of several pieces of equipment used to feed livestock. The word is a familiar example of how the meaning of an ordinary household or farm object can become closely associated with a major cultural and religious tradition.
nounA trough or box in which fodder, especially hay, is placed for animals to feed from. By extension, a representation of the trough in which, according to Christian tradition, the infant Jesus lay at his birth.
- A trough or box from which animals eat fodder.
- A representation of the trough in which the infant Jesus is shown in a Nativity scene.
"The stable included a wooden manger filled with fresh straw."
"The farmer filled the manger before leading the cows into the barn."
"The children gathered around the manger to sing a Christmas hymn."
Used mainly in the literal agricultural sense when referring to feeding troughs; the singular is normally used for the manger in a Nativity scene.
"The barn contains several wooden mangers for the sheep."
At Christmas, the humble feeding trough becomes the scene of one of Christianity’s most famous births.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does manger come from?
The word entered Middle English through Old French mangeoire, meaning “feeding trough,” derived from the French verb manger, “to eat.” That verb ultimately comes from Latin manducare, associated with eating or chewing, and belongs to the same broad Latin family as mandible and manducate. Its established religious sense developed from the manger shown in traditional Nativity imagery.
How manger is actually used
The literal sense is mainly associated with farm animals and feeding. The religious sense is especially common in Christmas displays, carols, and descriptions of Nativity scenes.