ormbunkar

Ormbunkar is a Swedish term that is rarely used in contemporary language. The word is a compound of orm (snake) and bunk (rack or shelf), and it appears primarily in older natural history texts and inventories. In those sources, ormbunkar described a type of display or storage fixture intended for snakes or elongated reptile specimens. The term may refer to a row of shelves within a cabinet or display case designed to hold such specimens, though the specific design varied across time and institutions.

In modern usage, ormbunkar is uncommon and is often treated as archaising or historical. When encountered, it typically denotes historical contexts rather than current practice. Contemporary terminology for living snakes tends to be terrarium or reptile enclosure, while for specimens a more general cabinet shelving or display terminology is used.

Etymology and usage notes: The precise meaning of ormbunkar can differ between sources, and some writers occasionally employ the term metaphorically to describe serpentine arrangements in furniture or display layouts. However, this figurative usage is not widespread.

See also: Cabinets of curiosities; reptile enclosures; terrarium; shelving.