beastkeeper
nounEtymology From beast + keeper.
1
One who is in charge of the care and management of animals.
- Suddenly the shrill sound of brazen trumpets was heard, and at that signal a grating opposite Cæsar’s podium was opened, and into the arena rushed, amid shouts of beastkeepers, an enormous German aurochs, bearing on his head the naked body of a woman.1906, Charles Maurice Stebbins, A Progressive Course in English for Secondary Schools: Literature, Composition, Rhetoric, Grammar, Boston, Mass.; Chicago, Ill.: Sibley & Company, page 169:
- I have a post as assistant beastkeeper in the royal gardens and, when not bearing the animals’ food in and ordure out, I inquire after Yorida, but to no avail.1965, L[yon] Sprague de Camp, “The Hungry Hercynian”, in L. Sprague de Camp, editor, The Spell of Seven: Stories of Heroic Fantasy, New York, N.Y.: Pyramid Books, published 1969, page 96:
4 more examples
- “He was my subject, my beastkeeper! He had no right to speak so rashly to the traech sorkra of Qamat!” Vraduir shrilled. “He is a beast himself, as I have made him, with Bogotana’s favor. The form suits his animal temper.”1980, Juanita Coulson, The Death God’s Citadel, New York, N.Y.: Del Rey Books, →LCCN, page 334:
- Days ago the Prince had ridden forth from the great gate of Sarykam at the head of a hundred cavalry, supported by magicians, beastkeepers, a couple of supply wagons, and semi-intelligent winged scouts and messengers.1992, Fred Saberhagen, chapter 13, in Wayfinder’s Story (Lost Swords; 7), New York, N.Y.: Tor, →ISBN, page 190:
- Activation of this glyph always alerts a guardian, sometimes summoning a fiend or tanar’ri to the spot instantly, but more often warning spellcasters or beastkeepers to ready their charges.1995, Encyclopedia Magica, volume 3, TSR, Inc., page 1202:
- “Still a vampyre, Seth, one of the damned, in love with a legend that doesn’t exist.” The voice was closer now. Night vision tuned, Janice could just make out the too-pale outline of a human-looking face above a powerful-if-beer-bellied, leather-clad, biker-built form. “Where there is no beast, there can be no beastkeeper. If she doesn’t exist, you can’t save her nor she, you…or anyone.” “Brave words for a bloodsucker about to be put down by the myth herself,” the naked, staked hunk called Seth roared. He looked over his shoulder at Janice, bloodless face alight with faith and fervor. “Do it, love. I’ll run interference. You raise the beast they’ve forced you to deny for centuries, and annihilate the very devil they’ve sent to enslave us all.”2005, Mary Jo Putney, MaryJanice Davidson, Vicki Lewis Thompson, Patricia Rice, Susan Grant, Gena Showalter, PC Cast, Alesia Holliday, Sophia Nash, Kathryn Caskie, Jennifer St. Giles, Linda Wisdom, Judi McCoy, Shelly Laurenston, Rachel Carrington, Lynn Warren, Elizabeth Holcombe, Michelle Rowen, Fiona MacLeod, Terese Ramin, Bewitched, Bothered & Be Vampyred, Triskelion Publishing, →ISBN, page 24: