Mid 18th century; earliest use found in Mary Wortley Montagu (bap. 1689, d. 1762), writer. Partly from Italian presepio stall, manger, especially the one in which Jesus was laid, nativity scene from classical Latin praesaepium, later variant of praesaepe, and partly from Italian presepe stall, manger, especially the one in which Jesus was laid, nativity scene from classical Latin praesaepe.