zookeeperhttp://www.oed.com/dictionary/zookeeper_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_usezookeeper, n.
Revised 2017

zookeepernoun

  1. 1886–
    A person responsible for taking care of the animals in a zoo; (sometimes also) the owner, director, or person in overall charge of a zoo.
    1. 1886
      It could be nursed and fed on warm milk..if Zoo keepers will have an eye to it.
      Daily Inter Ocean (Chicago) 3 November 2
    2. 1910
      Zoo is getting too crowded with all kinds of animals and I don't need so many dongola goats. I will sell you two for fifty dollars..Dennis Toole, Zoo keeper.
      E. P. Butler, Water Goats & Other Troubles 19
    3. 1977
      Zookeepers caring for a two-week-old orphaned hippopotamus have taken to..wading into a pool..to nurse the hippo from a bottle.
      Monitor (McAllen, Texas) 17 July 2f/4
    4. 1991
      The eccentric British millionaire zoo-keeper and former casino owner.
      Sunday Times (Nexis) 2 June (Overseas news section)
    5. 2009
      Zookeepers have helped hatch the eggs of one of the world's rarest species of turtle.
      Daily Telegraph 7 August 11/8

Originally published as part of the entry for zoo, n.

zoo, n. was revised in June 2017.