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A gaggle of geese, a murder of crows...

Started by Paschale, November 25, 2004, 08:26:42 PM

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Paschale

I was reading a thread Kirk Allen posted--he mentioned a "covey of quails."  I've never heard that expression, and it made me wonder if that's the specific plural term for quail.  I've always enjoyed keeping track of those odd plurals that are specific to certain animals, like the gaggle of geese, and murder of crows.  Any other odd ones you guys can think of?  I've often wondered how the heck the language developed these terms too--gaggle makes sense, since they sort of "gaggle," but "murder" of crows?  I'd like to know the story behind that one!

others that pop into my head right now:

pride of lions
swarm of bees
Y'all can pronounce it "puh-SKOLLY"

DanG

"Covey" is certainly the proper term for a community of Quail. I've never been able to understand why we have such unique terms for groupings like that. Why do oranges grow in groves, yet peaches are in orchards?  Sheep are in flocks, but cows reside in a herd. ???  

This is a funny language we have here, but, Lord ain't it fun?

BTW, groups of bovines are called "cattle".  That is obviously a plural term, but what is the corresponding singular? Is there one?

Some animals have specific names for the separate genders, such as mare's and stallions, or even fillies and colts, but others do not. What do you call a female cat?  

If a male horse is neutered, his name changes to "Gelding". Even stranger, a neutered male bovine becomes a "steer", but if he mature's as such, he is an ox.  If a male dog is deprived of his manhood, his name doesn't change, but his female counterpart's name isn't considered acceptable in polite society. ??? ::)  A female pig starts out life as a gilt, but at some point, she becomes a sow. Her brother is a boar, unless he is neutered, at which time he becomes a barrow.  I could go on and on, but you get the point, I'm sure.

I just got one question.  What do you call a neutered male Giraffe? ??? :P
"I don't feel like an old man.  I feel like a young man who has something wrong with him."  Dick Cavett
"Beat not thy sword into a plowshare, rather beat the sword of thine enemy into a plowshare."

Fla._Deadheader

All truth passes through three stages:
   First, it is ridiculed;
   Second, it is violently opposed; and
   Third, it is accepted as self-evident.

-- Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860)

Texas Ranger

The Ranger, home of Texas Forestry

Paschale

QuoteLong shot?


THAT is FUNNY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D :D :D :D :D

I'm still laughing....


Y'all can pronounce it "puh-SKOLLY"

Buzz-sawyer

Baby kangaroo, is Joey, his group is a mob............. :o
    HEAR THAT BLADE SING!

Buzz-sawyer

What do ya call a mixed group of sawyers?..................
    HEAR THAT BLADE SING!

Fla._Deadheader

   " Gluttons For Punishment "  ??? ??? ??? ;D ;D ;D
All truth passes through three stages:
   First, it is ridiculed;
   Second, it is violently opposed; and
   Third, it is accepted as self-evident.

-- Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860)

Paschale

I call it a good start!   ;)

Has anyone used the term "a brace of duck?"  I saw that online too.



Y'all can pronounce it "puh-SKOLLY"

Paschale

I did a search on the web, and came up with this site that lists a bunch of them.

http://www.anapsid.org/beastly.html

Some of my favorites:

An INTRUSION of Cockroaches   :D

A convocation of eagles

A gang of elk

a business or fesnyng of ferret (what the heck kind of word is fesnyng anyway?)

A charm of finch

A drumming of grouse

A kettle of hawks

A sedge of heron

A shoal of herring

A cackle of hyenas (makes sense to me!)

A smack of jellyfish

An ascension/exaltation of larks

A plague of locusts

A parliament of owls

A muster/ostentation of peacocks

A bouquet of pheasant

A prickle of porcupines   :D

An unkindness of ravens

A shiver of sharks

A murmuration of starlings   :D

A dazzle of zebras

The English language is quirky, but fun.   8)
Y'all can pronounce it "puh-SKOLLY"

Pete J

The plural of goose is geese, so the plural of moose should be...

pappy

LogRite,

it ain't micees  ;D the plural of moose is herd

and a frog has it's own army  :P  ???




good link Paschale   :D  :D
"And if we live, we shall go again, for the enchantment which falls upon those who have gone into the woodland is never broken."

"Down the Allagash."  by; Henry Withee

Tom

When does a gathering of people become a crowd? :D

etat

 I HATE being crowded :D.

Tom sure hope that bunch of your's  don't get angry cause then they might  turn into a mob. :)
Old Age and Treachery will outperform Youth and Inexperence. The thing is, getting older is starting to be painful.

Tom

That would be the pits, Charles.  Maybe they'll  make a "Team", or a "congregation", or a ?   :P

Paschale

or a PLAGUE of people...as in a plague of locusts...   ;)
Y'all can pronounce it "puh-SKOLLY"

james

then of course there is a "crash" of rinoerosusses :o :o
james

Patty

"BTW, groups of bovines are called "cattle".  That is obviously a plural term, but what is the corresponding singular? Is there one?"


Wouldn't that be a cow?  ???
Women are Angels.
And when someone breaks our wings....
We simply continue to fly ........
on a broomstick.....
We are flexible like that.

Roxie

Or a bull
Or a steer
Or a heifer
Or a calf

Cattle can be all those things.   :D
Say when

pigman

Wouldn't the singular of bovines be bovine. ;D ::) :)
Things turn out best for people who make the best of how things turn out.

Haytrader

 Bovines are Cattle and can be a calf (either bull or heifer or steer), a yearling (same as previous), a cow, or a bull. When they are in a group they are a herd as in herd of cattle.

Kinda like a whack of logs.

;)
Haytrader

etat

Two or more cats are called.................



DanG CATS!
Old Age and Treachery will outperform Youth and Inexperence. The thing is, getting older is starting to be painful.

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