manger

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/ˈmeɪndʒər/
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A feed trough for animals, familiar from the nativity story, with a rare technical use for a water-catching compartment in a ship's bow.

Examples

  • Old plans marked a narrow manger across the bow.
  • The anchor cable dragged weed into the ship's manger.
  • The manual described the manger as part of the hawse gear.
  • Horses pushed toward the manger at feeding time.
  • The cattle ate quietly from the long manger.

Similar words

cable trough
hawse trough
feeding trough
feed bin
feedbox
trough
crib
fodder trough
feed trough
hawse compartment

Meanings

Animal feeding trough

noun
agriculture
neutral
A low open box or trough that holds feed for farm animals, especially in a stable or barn.

Examples

  • The farmer filled the wooden manger with grain.
  • Horses pushed toward the manger at feeding time.
  • A stone manger stood against the stable wall.
  • The cattle ate quietly from the long manger.
  • Fresh straw lay beside the empty manger.
  • In the Christmas story, Mary laid Jesus in a manger.
  • The nativity scene showed a child resting in a simple manger.

Similar words

Ship bow compartment

noun
nautical
technical
A partitioned space near a ship's hawseholes that helps contain water brought in with the anchor cable.

Examples

  • Seawater collected in the manger below the hawseholes.
  • The crew cleaned mud from the manger after raising anchor.
  • Old plans marked a narrow manger across the bow.
  • The carpenter repaired the manger board before the voyage.
  • A clogged manger could leave water standing under the forecastle.
  • The anchor cable dragged weed into the ship's manger.
  • The manual described the manger as part of the hawse gear.

Similar words

Etymology

From Middle English and Anglo-French forms related to Old French mangeoire, a feeding place, from mangier meaning “to eat”, ultimately from Latin manducare, “to chew or eat”.

FAQ

What is a manger?

A manger is a low open trough or box that holds feed for animals such as horses, cattle, and donkeys.

Why is manger used in the Christmas story?

The story says Jesus was laid in a manger, meaning an animal feeding trough used as a humble makeshift crib.

Is a manger the same as a crib?

Not usually. A manger is an animal feed trough, though the nativity trough is often called a crib because it held the infant Jesus.

How is manger pronounced?

Manger is pronounced /ˈmeɪndʒər/, rhyming roughly with danger.

What is the difference between manger and manager?

Manger is a feeding trough. Manager is a person who supervises people, work, or a business.

Where does manger come from?

Manger comes through French forms connected with eating, ultimately from Latin manducare, meaning “to chew or eat”.

Can manger be a nautical term?

Yes. In older technical use, a manger is a compartment near a ship’s hawseholes that catches water from the anchor cable.

Is dog in the manger a separate meaning of manger?

No. Dog in the manger is an idiom built from the feed-trough sense, not a separate meaning of the bare word.

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