Now that we know that elks gang up, chicks clutch, cranes seige, goats trip????(I've
never seen a goat trip, sure footed buggers they are) and crows hang around in a
murder.
But what is a group of archeologists??? (besides drunk)
--
Michael Strutt
Staff Archeologist
Center for Historic Preservation
Middle Tennessee State University
.........................................................
"Work is the curse of the drinking classes" - Oscar Wilde
geoff carver wrote:
> [log in to unmask] schrieb:
> > For what it may be worth to historic archaeologists (and such information can
> > be useful at times), here is the proper use of animal group terminology,
> > provided by James G. Doherty, General Curator, The Wildlife Conservation
> > Society.
> >
> > Science and Technology—Environment & Nature
> > Animal Group Terminology
> >
> > Source: James G. Doherty, General Curator,
> > The Wildlife Conservation Society
> >
> > (taken from: http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0004725.html)
> >
> >
> > ants: colony
> > bears: sleuth, sloth
> > bees: grist, hive, swarm
> > birds: flight, volery
> > cattle: drove
> > cats: clutter, clowder
> > chicks: brood, clutch
> > clams: bed
> > cranes: sedge, seige
> > crows: murder
>
> i've never been able to verify this - not in the oed - the concise oed i have
> also has a list - appendix xvi, page 1667, 9th edition -
> some of these "belong to 15th century lists of 'proper terms', notably
> that in the book of st albans atributed to dame juliana barnes (1486). many of
> these are fanciful or humorous terms which probably never had any real currency,
> but have been taken up by joseph strutt in sports and pastimes of england (1801)
> and by other antiquarian writers."
>
> > doves: dule
> > ducks: brace, team
> > elephants: herd
> > elks: gang
> > finches: charm
> > fish: school, shoal, draught
> > foxes: leash, skulk
> > geese: flock, gaggle, skein
> > gnats: cloud, horde
> > goats: trip
> > gorillas: band
> > hares: down, husk
> > hawks: cast
> > hens: brood
> > hogs: drift
> > horses: pair, team
> > hounds: cry, mute, pack
> > kangaroos: troop
> > kittens: kindle, litter
> > larks: exaltation
> > lions: pride
> > locusts: plague
> > magpies: tidings
> > mules: span
> > nightingales: watch
> > oxen: yoke
> > oysters: bed
> > parrots: company
> > partridges: covey
> > peacocks: muster, ostentation
> > pheasants: nest, bouquet
> > pigs: litter
> > ponies: string
> > quail: bevy, covey
> > rabbits: nest
> > seals: pod
> > sheep: drove, flock
> > sparrows: host
> > storks: mustering
> > swans: bevy, wedge
> > swine: sounder
> > toads: knot
> > turkeys: rafter
> > turtles: bale
> > vipers: nest
> > whales: gam, pod
> > wolves: pack, route
> > woodcocks: fall
>
> others:
>
> destruction of wild cats
> sounder of wild boar
> drunkship of cobblers
> blush of boys
> superfluity of nuns
> pity of prisoners
> malapertness of pedlars
> desert of lapwing
> labour of moles
> barren of mules
> unkindness of ravens
> glozing of taverners
> trip of wigeon
> knob of water/wildfowl
> siege of herons
> observance of hermits
> fling of dunlins
>
> geoff carver
> http://home.t-online.de/home/gcarver/
> [log in to unmask]
|