Jamrach

English

Etymology

From the surname of a famous animal dealer in London.

Noun

Jamrach (plural Jamrachs)

1. A dealer in exotic wild animals.
   • 1882, John Ashton, Social Life in the Reign of Queen Anne: Taken from Original Sources:

     Frequent allusions are made to a lady's pets, her lap-dog or her parrot […] In fact there were 'Jamrachs' then as now, and many of the bird shops were in St. Martin's Lane, […]

   • 1905, Douglas Blackburn, Richard Hartley, Prospector, page 245:

     He was a veritable Jamrach, prepared to supply any wild animal the credulous traveller might fancy, but the non-appearance of the creatures at last excited Wilmot's suspicions, and he expressed them in suitable language.

   • 1931, The Law Reports of the Incorporated Council of Law Reporting:

     As it stands the Society could lawfully carry on the business of a Jamrach, and introduce many more animals than required for educational purposes. The provision of elephants for riding is rather doubtful. Where is it to stop?

   • 1976, Wilfrid Blunt, The ark in the park: the Zoo in the nineteenth century, page 54:

     A Jamrach today could purchase a million budgies and still find little difficulty in disposing of his stock.