Mid 19th century; earliest use found in John Lindley (1799–1865), botanist and horticulturist. Apparently originally from Easter + French mangeant eating, present participle of mangeant, although no similar formation is recorded in French, and it is not clear why the word should have a French second element; alternatively, the second element may show an English formation from maunge and -and, but this would explain the forms less well. A number of the forms apparently show folk-etymological alteration, especially as a result of association with giant.