What is your favourite collective noun for animals?

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   JanTutorposted 11 years ago

   
   One of the strangest idiosyncrasy of the English language is the sheer amount of collective nouns that all mean "group" that are precisely to  do with what exact thing there is a group of: a bunch of grapes, a pack of cards, a colony of penguins, a staff of employees, an annoyance of neighbours a flock of sheep, and so forth. Many of these collective nouns are striking, evocative even lyrical and there is great diversity of collective nouns associated with animals, I’d like to know what are your favourites; a murder of crows perhaps? Or a congress of baboons?

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      Motown2Chitownposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Mine is a clowder of cats. 

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      Mighty Momposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Being a big cats fan, I gotta go with a PRIDE of lions!

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      WritingPromptsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I like "a gaggle of geese".

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   JanTutorposted 11 years ago

   Those are good ones. Have you heard of a flange of baboons and a congregation of crocodiles?

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      WritingPromptsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      A congregation? I never knew crocodiles were religious!

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         JanTutorposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         No, but people who happen upon them most probably pray for their lives!

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      c2mtechposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Never heard before...........

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         JanTutorposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Check them out some of them are hilarious, for instance, an unkindness of ravens and a rhumba of rattlesnakes and can you imagine a parliament of rooks!

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   habeeposted 11 years ago

   An exaltation of doves...or larks.

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      JanTutorposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Very poetic

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      JanTutorposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Very beautiful and very apt!

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   Greekgeekposted 11 years ago

   A "murder of crows," because it's so odd.
   
   Neil Gaiman invented a very interesting story in his Sandman graphic novels explaining the origin of that one.

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   JanTutorposted 11 years ago

   That sounds interesting - I'll check it out. Thanks for your interest.

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   hoppedposted 11 years ago

   I like "Sleuth of bears" and "Charm of hummingbirds."
   
   I found this website once almost by accident but I love going back to it from time to time.
   
   http://rinkworks.com/words/collective.shtml
   
   I promise, it's not my website or anything.  I just think it's a fun resource to share!

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   Dame Scribeposted 11 years ago

   That's a cool website think I like that one too, charm of hummingbirds and also, 'brace of bucks'   just got to love these critters in our world.

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      JanTutorposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      The list just goes on and such interesting choices. Thanks for your response.

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   Rochelle Frankposted 11 years ago

   A parliament of owls.. They DO look so serious and important.

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      hoppedposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      They're obviously part of the ruling class of animals.

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      JanTutorposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Self-imposed importance - rather like a government - hence the name!
      
      Thanks for your offering.

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   miss_jkimposted 11 years ago

   How about a mob of Joey's?

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      JanTutorposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      That's a new one on me but I can just picture it - sharply dressed like 1930's gangsters.

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    hagsvilleUSAposted 11 years ago

    I'd have to go with Flock of Seagulls -- they had awesome hair.   ;-)

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    jenb0128posted 11 years ago

    A kettle of vultures.
    
    It comes from the fact that a large group of circling vultures looks kind of like bubbles rising in a tea kettle.

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       JanTutorposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Interesting fact - you're definitely the person to have on a trivia team!!!

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    Kenjaposted 11 years ago

    Like it...

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    Nesbyteposted 11 years ago

    Mine is probably a "parliament" of owls, or perhaps an "ostentation" of peacocks.

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       JanTutorposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Nice ones!

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    Patty Inglish, MSposted 11 years ago

    A Coalition of Cheetahs and a Gaze of Raccoons are pretty cool.
    
    ...and the usual gang of idiots at Mad Magazine. lol

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    paradigmsearchposted 11 years ago

    Infestation of Humans.
    
    Great thread!

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       Patty Inglish, MSposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       That's funny.

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       JanTutorposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Funny with more than a smattering of truth!

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    austinhealyposted 11 years ago

    A pack of dogs, all barking together while running...after my neighbor's fat and ugly cat. The cat will survive

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       JanTutorposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       I once visited a fairly notorious estate and I swear the cats went around in gangs beating the dogs up. It was eye-opening!

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    mega1posted 11 years ago

    I pretty much like the term "beasts" especially in reference to certain men-animals!

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       JanTutorposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Mega1 you're way too funny and you've probably identified the best of all the collective nouns. I'm supposed to be nursing a cold not crying with laughter but you're humour (English spelling) has banished any notion of self-pity. Thank you!

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    Shaddieposted 11 years ago

    A fesnyng. A fesnyng of ferrets.

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       JanTutorposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       I have never in all my days heard of this - now I'm off to get a dictionary. Thanks for sharing!

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