Synonym Etymologies Z

Continuing the look at synonyms through the eyes of the etymologist, this time it is the letter Z and zoo. Not seen as an abbreviation before 1847, this an abbreviation of the London Zoological Society founded in Regents Park nineteen years earlier, the word came to English through the Latin zoologia and Greek zoion 'animal', both from Proto-Indo-European gwei 'to live'. As there are no actual synonyms, no surprise for such a late word, I will content myself with looking at similar terms.

Menagerie came from the French where it described 'housing for domestic animals', and itself derived from menage 'household' and sharing a root with the Latin 'mansion'.

Vivarium today refers to 'a glass bowl for studying living creatures', but the Latin vivarium referred to 'an enclosure for live game' and even 'park, warren, fish pond'. Again we can trace this back to Proto-Indo-European gwie 'to live'.

Aquarium is from Latin aquarius 'pertaining to water', the first element from Proto-Indo-European akwa 'water'.

Aviary is linked to the previous two words, with Latin aviarium 'place where birds are kept' derived from Proto-Indo-European awi 'bird'.

Terrarium is first seen in 1877, and derived from Latin terra 'land' and traceable back to Proto-Indo-European ters 'dry'.