What in the World Is a "Monger"?
Welcome back to the Just Cheesy Blog, your snack-sized companion to Just Cheesy: The Podcast.
On our latest episode, we got into the delicious details of the cheesemonger’s craft.
But that got us thinking, what in the world is a "Monger"?
FONDUE: The word monger comes from the Old English mangere, meaning a merchant, trader, or dealer.
CHEESY: So basically... a professional pusher of stuff.
FONDUE: Precisely. It’s also related to the Latin mango, meaning trader. Originally, it was a neutral term—a simple job title. But, like cheese left to ripen, its meaning grew more complex over time.
CHEESY: You mean it got funkier.
FONDUE: Exactly. Today, “-monger” can mean an honorable expert (like our beloved cheesemongers) or a notorious spreader of chaos (we’re looking at you, scandalmongers).
CHEESY: Some people sell Gouda. Some people sell gossip.
FONDUE: It all boils down to two types: the Literal Mongers (dealers in goods) and the Figurative Mongers (dealers in moods).
CHEESY: Whoa.
FONDUE: The literal mongers are the backbone of bustling markets—the classic tradespeople. If you could touch it, weigh it, or smell it (hopefully in a good way), a literal monger probably sold it to you.
Cheesemonger: The star of our show! A dealer in cheese—a knowledgeable curator of dairy delights.
Fishmonger: The familiar seller of fish and seafood.
Ironmonger: A classic British term for a hardware dealer.
Costermonger: A street vendor selling fruits and veggies, often from a cart.
Fellmonger: A historical trader of animal hides or skins.
Wool-monger: A seller of wool, keeping us all warm and woolly.
CHEESY: I think I’d make a great hay-monger.
FONDUE: Because you’re outstanding in your field?
CHEESY: Exactly. And very moo-tivated.
FONDUE: Then there are the figurative mongers, who deal in drama. Starting around the 16th century, people began using "-monger" for those who spread not goods, but feelings—usually the messy kind.
Fearmonger: Spreads fear or panic to manipulate public opinion.
Warmonger: Promotes or provokes war—the opposite of fondue night.
Scandalmonger & Gossipmonger: Peddlers of juicy stories and salacious tidbits.
Hatemonger: Spreads hate and intolerance (no cheese platter for them).
Doommonger: Sees the grater half of life as half empty.
FONDUE: Some mongers deal in fish, and some deal in fear.
CHEESY: And I deal exclusively in cheddar and chuckles.
FONDUE: Which makes you…
CHEESY: A joke-monger! Now that’s a title that would make me proud.
We here at Just Cheesy are proud to be your official Cheesemonger enthusiasts and Joke-Mongers of the Midwest. Now, which monger are you? Let us know and don't forget to listen to the latest episode of the podcast
Cheesemonger — dealer/curator of cheeses.
Fishmonger — seller of fish/seafood.
Ironmonger — dealer in hardware/metal goods.
Costermonger — street seller of fruit/veg.
Coalmonger — coal/fuel dealer.
Haymonger — seller of hay/straw.
Fellmonger — trader/processor of hides and skins.
Buttermonger — historical butter seller.
Woolmonger — dealer in wool for textiles.
Saltmonger — seller of salt for food/preservation.
Tallowmonger — trader of tallow (for candles/soap).
Spicemonger — dealer in herbs and spices.
Bookmonger — archaic bookseller.
Lightmonger — lighting and fixtures trade.
Cornmonger — grain/cereal seller (older usage).
Woodmonger — lumber or firewood seller.
Papermonger — supplier of paper/parchment.
Seedmonger — seller of seeds for planting.
Toolmonger — dealer in tools and implements.
Glassmonger — trader in glassware or bottles.
Feathermonger — dealer in feathers/feather goods.
Waxmonger — seller of wax/candle stock.
Curio-monger — seller of curiosities/collectibles.
Toymonger — seller of toys or trinkets.
Hatmonger — trader in hats/headwear.
Leathermonger — dealer in leather/leather goods.
Gamemonger — seller of wild game meats.
Florimonger/Flowermonger — trader in cut flowers.
Eggmonger — seller of eggs.
Icemonger — historic trade in ice blocks.
Newsmonger — one who busily passes along news.
Rumormonger — spreader/dealer in rumors.
Scandalmonger — spreader of scandal/gossip.
Fearmonger — one who stokes or spreads fear.
Warmonger — promoter/supporter of war.
Peacemonger — advocate of peace (often ironic).
Powermonger — manipulator/hoarder of influence.
Hatemonger — promoter of hate/prejudice.
Doommonger — constant predictor of disaster.
Lovemonger — one who spreads/celebrates love (often playful).
Gossipmonger — habitual spreader of gossip.
Wordmonger — one who “deals in words” (pretentiously).
Wondermonger — dealer in marvels/sensations.
Moneymonger — grasping or profit-obsessed dealer.
Star-monger — poetic dealer in fame/“stars.”
Dreammonger — poetic “seller of dreams.”
Costardmonger — old term for an apple seller.
Balladmonger — seller/peddler of printed ballads.
Soapmonger — seller of soaps/detergents.
Joke-monger — dealer in jokes (Cheesy and Fondue!).
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