English

man cave

From man + cave, suggesting a cave in which prehistoric people sometimes lived.

A compound of man + cave

Proto-Germanic *mann- ‘human being, person, man’

Proto-West Germanic *mann ‘person’

Old English mann ‘human being, person, man’

Middle English man

English man

Proto-Italic *kawos

Latin cavus ‘hollow’

Latin cava ‘cavity’

Old French cave

Middle English cave ‘a cave or cavern’

English cave

Today it means

noun A part of a home specifically reserved for adult male activities, such as drinking beer, playing games and watching TV; often a garage or den.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / man cave