Appendix:English collective nouns: difference between revisions
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A '''[[collective noun]]''' is a special kind of [[noun]] that refers to a [[collection]] of objects — often animals — such as a ''flock'' of birds, or a ''pride'' of lions. |
A '''[[collective noun]]''' is a special kind of [[noun]] that refers to a [[collection]] of objects — often animals — such as a ''flock'' of birds, or a ''pride'' of lions. |
Revision as of 20:49, 29 December 2010
A collective noun is a special kind of noun that refers to a collection of objects — often animals — such as a flock of birds, or a pride of lions.
In the lists which follow, terms marked with a + belong to the 15th-century list of "proper terms" contained in the Book of St Albans, attributed to Dame Julia Barnes (1486) Lua error in Module:debug at line 160: This template is not used on Wiktionary.. Many of these are fanciful or humorous terms which have never had any real currency, but have been taken up by various antiquarian writers.[1]
Strictly speaking there are nouns of assemblage and nouns of multitudeLua error in Module:debug at line 160: This template is not used on Wiktionary.. According to Barnes, "the names of multitudes must not be used promiscuously in designating companies...."Lua error in Module:debug at line 160: This template is not used on Wiktionary. She goes on to say that strict regard to these niceties "better distinguishes gentlymen from ungentlymen". Lua error in Module:debug at line 160: This template is not used on Wiktionary.
The lists are given in two formats, as shown below.
Contents: | A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |
---|
List of collective nouns
A
B
Words beginning "ba - bl"
- bale: A bale of turtles
- bevy: A bevy of quail
- bike: A bike of ants ?
- bike: A bike of (wild) bees ?
- bike: A bike of hornets
- bike: A bike of wasps
- byke: A byke of (wild) bees ?
Template:mid2 Words beginning "bm - bz"
C
Words beginning "ca - cl"
- cast: A cast (secondary swarm) of bees?
- cete: A cete of badgers +?
- cete: A cete of whales ?
- charm: A charm of finches
- chattering: A chattering of choughs
- chirm: A chirm of finches +?
- cloud: A cloud of flies
- cloud: A cloud of gnats
- clowder: A clowder of cats + ?[2]
- cluster: A cluster of (workers around queen) bees
- clutch: A clutch of eggs
Template:mid2 Words beginning "cm - cz"
- coalition: A coalition of cheetahs
- cog: A cog of robots
- colony: A colony of ants
- colony: A colony of badgers
- colony: A colony of bees
- congregation: A congregation of plovers
- confusion: A confusion of officers
- covert: A covert of coots
- crash: A crash of rhinoceroses[3]
- cry: A cry of hounds[4]
- culture: A culture of bacteria
D
Words beginning "da - dl"
- deck: A deck of cards
- destruction: A destruction of wild cats + ?
- donsy: A donsy of gnomes
- dotard: A dotard of Flobberworms.
Template:mid2 Words beginning "dm - dz"
- down: A down of hares. +?
E
Words beginning "ea - el"
- eleven: An eleven of footballers.
Template:mid2 Words beginning "em - ez"
- erst: An erst of bees ?
- exaltation: An exaltation of larks
F
Words beginning "fa - fl"
- farrow: A farrow of piglets[6]
- flange: A flange of baboons
- flight: A flight of aircraft
- flight: A flight of stairs
- flight: A flight of doves
- flock: A flock of lice +?
- flock: A flock of sheep[7]
Template:mid2 Words beginning "fm - fz"
G
Words beginning "ga - gl"
- gaggle: A gaggle of geese
- gam: A gam of whales[8]
- game: A game of bees
- gang: A gang of elk[9]
- gang: A gang of convicts
- gang: A gang of thieves.
- gang: A gang of thugs
- glaring: A glaring of cats
- glory: An glory of unicorns
Template:mid2 Words beginning "gm - gz"
H
Words beginning "ha - hl"
- hand: A hand of bananas
- herd: The collective noun for (various) herbivores.
- herd: A herd of antelope
- herd: A herd of buffalo
- herd: A herd of cows
- herd: A herd of cranes
- herd: A herd of curlews
- herd: A herd of deer
- herd: A herd of whales[10]
- herd: A herd of zebra[11]
- hive: A hive of bees (standard)
Template:mid2 Words beginning "hm - hz"
I
Words beginning "ia - il"
Template:mid2 Words beginning "im - iz"
J
Words beginning "ja - jl"
Template:mid2 Words beginning "jm - jz"
K
Words beginning "ka - kl"
Template:mid2 Words beginning "km - kz"
L
Words beginning "la - ll"
- leap: A leap of leopards +?
- leash: A leash of bucks +?
- lepe: A lepe of leopards +?
- litter: A litter of kittens
- litter: A litter of puppies[13]
- litter: A litter of various unweaned animals.
Template:mid2 Words beginning "lm - lz"
M
Words beginning "ma - ml"
Template:mid2 Words beginning "mm - mz"
N
Words beginning "na - nl"
Template:mid2 Words beginning "nm - nz"
O
P
Words beginning "pa - pl"
- pack: A pack of cards
- pack: the collective noun for (various) carnivores
- pack: A pack of dogs[14]
- pack: A pack of lies
- pack: A pack of hounds[14]
- pack: A pack of wolves[14]
- paddling: A paddling of ducks
- parliament: A parliament of owls or rooks
- passel: A passel of brats
- perversion: A perversion of sailors
- plump: A plump of wildfowl
Template:mid2 Words beginning "pm - pz"
Q
R
Words beginning "ra - rl"
- rabble: A rabble of bees
- raft: A raft of sea otters
- richesse: A richesse of martens. +?
- richness: A richness of martens. +?
Template:mid2 Words beginning "rm - rz"
S
Words beginning "sa - sl"
- school: A collective noun for (various) fish.
- school: A school of dolphins
- school: A school of fish
- school: A school of whales[19]
- sedge: A sedge of cranes
- shrewdness: A shrewdness of apes + ? [20]
- shoal: A collective noun for (various) fish.
- shoal: A shoal of fish
- siege: A siege of cranes
- singularity: A singularity of boar.
- skein: A skein of geese
- skulk: A skulk of foxes[21]
- sleuth: A sleuth of bears
Template:mid2 Words beginning "sm - sz"
- smack: A smack of jellyfish
- sord: A sord of mallard +?
- sounder: A sounder of (wild) boar [22]
- stable: A stable of horses[23]
- stand: A stand of bees
- stand: A stand of plovers
- stare: A stare of owls
- stench: A stench of zombies
- string: A string of ponies[24]
- suit: A suit of sails
- sute: A sute of mallard
- superfluity: A superfluity of nuns.
- swarm: The collective noun for (various) insects.
- swarm: A swarm of bees (standard)
- swarm: A swarm of flies
- swarm: A swarm of jellyfish (standard)
- swarm: A swarm of gnats
T
Words beginning "ta - tl"
- team: A team of ducks (on the wing).
- team: A team of geese (in flight).
- team: A team of horses[25]
- team: A team of oxen[26]
- team: A team of (various) sportsmen.
- thirst: A thirst of Irish
Template:mid2 Words beginning "tm - tz"
U
V
W
Words beginning "wa - wl"
- watch: A watch of nightingales. +
- web: A web of lies
- wing: A wing of plovers.
- whoop: A whoop of gorillas.
Template:mid2 Words beginning "wm - wz"
X
Y
Z
List of nouns represented by collectives
A
Words beginning "aa - al"
- actors: A troupe of actors
- actors: A cast of actors
- actors: A company of actors
- admirals: A bridge of admirals
- academics: A faculty of academics
Template:mid2
Words beginning "am - az"
- angels: A host of angels
- angels: A chorus of angels ?
- angels: A choir of angels
- ants: A colony of ants (standard)
- ants: A bike of ants ?
- ants: A nest of ants
- ants: An army of ants
- antelope: A herd of antelope
- apes: A shrewdness of apes + ?
- apes: A troop of apes (standard).
- archivists: A fonds of archivists
- asses: A herd of asses (standard)
- asses: A pace of asses ?
B
Words beginning "ba - bl"
- baboons: A flange of baboons. ?
- baboons: A tribe of baboons
- baboons: A troop of baboons.(standard)
- bacteria: A culture of bacteria.
- badgers: A cete of badgers. + ? [29]
- badgers: A colony of badgers (standard)
- bananas: A hand of bananas.
- bananas: A bunch of bananas
- bats: A colony of bats - at roost.
- bears: A sloth of bears + ? [30]
- bears: A sleuth of bears + ?
- bees: A bike of (wild) bees. ?
- bees: A byke of (wild) bees. ?
- bees: A cast of bees (a secondary swarm)
- bees: A cluster of bees (workers around queen).
- bees: A colony of bees
- bees: A drift of bees - in flight ?
- bees: An erst of bees.
- bees: A game of bees.
- bees: A grist of bees.
- bees: A hive of bees. (standard)
- bees: A rabble of bees.
- bees: A stand of bees.
- bees: A swarm of bees - in flight. (standard)
- birds: A flock of birds (standard)
- birds: A flight of birds (standard)
- birds: A pod - small flight - of birds ?
- birds: A fleet of (small) birds +
- birds: A dissimulation of (small) birds +
- birds: A volary of birds in an aviary.
- bitterns: A sedge of bitterns. ?
- bitterns: A siege of bitterns. ?
Template:mid2 Words beginning "bm - bz"
- boar A singularity of (wild) boar.
- boar A sounder of (wild) boar
- bonobos : A box of bonobos
- bother : A spot of bother
- boys: A blush of boys. + ?
- boys: A boister of boys.
- brats: A passel of brats
- brumbies: A band of brumbies
- brumbies: A mob of brumbies
- bucks: A leash of bucks
- buffalo: A herd of buffalo
- butterflies: A swarm of butterflies (standard)
- butterflies: A kaleidoscope of butterflies
- butterflies: A flutter of butterflies
C
Words beginning "ca - cl"
- cards: A deck of cards.
- cards: A house of [specially arranged] cards.
- cards: A pack of cards.
- cards: A tower of [specially arranged] cards.
- cats: A clowder of cats. +?
- cats: A glaring of cats. +?
- cats: A dowt of cats. +?
- cats: A destruction of wild cats +?
- check controllers: A stab of check controllers (Air Traffic Control).
- chickens: A brood of chickens.
- cheetahs: A coalition of cheetahs
- choughs: A chattering of choughs. +?
- clowns [derivative]: A bunch of clowns.
- clowns: A nest of clowns.
- clowns: A trunkload of clowns.
Template:mid2 Words beginning "cm - cz"
D
Words beginning "da - dl"
Template:mid2 Words beginning "dm - dz"
- doctors: A doctrine of doctors ?
- doctors: A field of doctors (standard)
- dogs: A pack of dogs.
- dogs: A kennel of dogs
- dolphins: A school of dolphins
- dolphins: A pod of dolphins
- doves: A flight of doves
- ducks: A paddling of ducks (on water) +?
- ducks: A team of ducks (in flight)+
- dragons: A blaze of dragons
- dragons: A horde of dragons (standard)
E
Words beginning "ea - el"
- eagles: An aerie of eagles
- eagles: A convocation of eagles
- eggs: A clutch of eggs.
- elephants: A herd of elephants.
- elk: A gang of elk.
Template:mid2 Words beginning "em - ez"
F
Words beginning "fa - fl"
- ferrets: A business of ferrets. +?
- finches: A charm of finches.
- finches: A chirm of finches +?
- finches: A flock of finches (standard)
- fish: A school of fish. (standard)
- fish: A shoal of fish. (standard)
- fish: A run of fish (in motion). (standard)
- flies: A cloud of flies.
- flies: A swarm of flies.
- flamingoes: A flamboyance of flamingoes
Template:mid2 Words beginning "fm - fz"
- footballers: An eleven of footballers.
- footballers: A squad of footballers.
- footballers: A team of footballers. (standard)
- foxes: A skulk of foxes.
- fry: A nursery of fry.
G
Words beginning "ga - gl"
- geese: A gaggle of geese. (standard)
- geese: A skein of flying geese. (standard)
- geese: A team of flying geese.
- geese: A wedge of flying geese.
- giraffes: A tower of giraffes.
Template:mid2 Words beginning "gm - gz"
H
Words beginning "ha - hl"
- hares: A husk of hares. +?
- hares: A down of hares. +?
- hawks: A kettle of hawks. + ?
- hawks: A boil of hawks ?
- hawks: A cast of hawks. ? (strictly two let fly).
- hawks: An aerie of hawks. ?
- hippos" A bloat of hippos. ?
Template:mid2 Words beginning "hm - hz"
I
Words beginning "ia - il"
Template:mid2 Words beginning "im - iz"
J
Words beginning "ja - jl"
- jellyfish: A brood of jellyfish
- jellyfish: A smack of jellyfish.
- jellyfish: A swarm of jellyfish. (standard)
- jellyfish: A jive of jellyfish.
Template:mid2 Words beginning "jm - jz"
K
Words beginning "ka - kl"
- kittens: A kindle of kittens. ?
- kittens: A litter of kittens. (standard)
- kittens: A claw of kittens. ?
Template:mid2 Words beginning "km - kz"
L
Words beginning "la - ll"
- larks : An exaltation of larks
- leopards: A leap of leopards +?
- leopards: A lepe of leopards +?
- leaves: A pile of leaves
- lice: A flock of lice +?
- lies: A pack of lies
- lies: A web of lies
- lions : A pride of lions
Template:mid2 Words beginning "lm - lz"
M
Words beginning "ma - ml"
- mallard: A sord of mallard +?
- mallard: A sute of mallard +?
- martens: A richesse of martens +?
- martens: A richness of martens +?
- mice: A punnet of mice
Template:mid2 Words beginning "mm - mz"
N
Words beginning "na - nl"
- nightingales: A watch of nightingales. +
Template:mid2 Words beginning "nm - nz"
- nuns: A superfluity of nuns. +?
- nuns: A convent of nuns. +?
O
Words beginning "oa - ol"
Template:mid2 Words beginning "om - oz"
P
Words beginning "pa - pl"
- pigs: A sounder of pigs (or wild boar) foraging in woodland
- pigs: A herd of pigs in a field or yard
- pigeons: A kit of pigeons flying together
- piglets: A farrow of piglets
- piglets: A litter of piglets
- pineapples: A prickle of pineapples
- plovers: A congregation of plovers +?
- plovers: A stand of plovers
- plovers: A wing of plovers
Template:mid2 Words beginning "pm - pz"
Q
Words beginning "qa - qul"
- quail: A bevy of quail (standard)
- quail: A drift of quail.
- quail: A flight of quail (standard)
- queers: A brace of queers (standard)
Template:mid2 Words beginning "qum - quz"
R
Words beginning "ra - rl"
- rabbits: A warren of rabbits.
- rats: A mischief of rats.
- raccoons: A nursery of raccoons.
- ravens: An unkindness of ravens. + ?
- rhinoceroses: a crash of rhinos.
Template:mid2 Words beginning "rm - rz"
- rooks: A parliament of rooks.
S
Words beginning "sa - sl"
Template:mid2 Words beginning "sm - sz"
T
Words beginning "ta - tl"
- terriers: A mess of terriers.
- tigers: An ambush of tigers.
- thieves: A gang of thieves.
- thugs: A gang of thugs.
Template:mid2 Words beginning "tm - tz"
U
V
W
Words beginning "wa - wl"
- washing: A load of washing.
- whales: A gam of whales
- whales: A grind of bottle nosed whales
- whales: A herd of whales
- whales: A pod of whales (standard)
- whales: A school of whales (standard)
- whales: A shard of whales (standard)
- whalers: A gam of whalers.
- wildfowl: A bunch of wildfowl
- wildfowl: A knob less than 30 wildfowl
- wildfowl: A plump of wildfowl
- wildfowl: A trip of wildfowl
- witches: A cackle of witches
Template:mid2 Words beginning "wm - wz"
X
Y
Z
Words beginning "za - zl"
Template:mid2 Words beginning "zm - zz"
Reference
- ^ Oxford Reference Dictionary, Oxford University Press, 1986.
- ^ clowder. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.0.1). Retrieved November 29, 2006, from Dictionary.com website[1]
- ^ San Diego Zoo Animal Bytes
- ^ cry. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.0.1). Retrieved November 29, 2006, from Dictionary.com website[2]
- ^ drift. (n.d.). The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Retrieved November 29, 2006, from Dictionary.com website[3]
- ^ farrow. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.0.1). Retrieved November 29, 2006, from Dictionary.com website[4]
- ^ flock. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.0.1). Retrieved November 29, 2006, from Dictionary.com website[5]
- ^ gam. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.0.1). Retrieved November 29, 2006, from Dictionary.com website[6]
- ^ gang. (n.d.). The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Retrieved November 29, 2006, from Dictionary.com website[7]
- ^ herd. (n.d.). WordNet® 2.0. Retrieved November 29, 2006, from Dictionary.com website[8]
- ^ herd. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.0.1). Retrieved November 29, 2006, from Dictionary.com website[9]
- ^ kindle. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.0.1). Retrieved November 29, 2006, from Dictionary.com website[10]
- ^ litter. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.0.1). Retrieved November 29, 2006, from Dictionary.com website[11]
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 pack. (n.d.). The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Retrieved November 29, 2006, from Dictionary.com website[12]
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 pod. (n.d.). The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Retrieved November 29, 2006, from Dictionary.com website[13]
- ^ pride. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.0.1). Retrieved November 29, 2006, from Dictionary.com website[14]
- ^ punnet. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.0.1). Retrieved November 29, 2006, from Dictionary.com website[15]
- ^ rout. (n.d.). The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Retrieved November 29, 2006, from Dictionary.com website[16]
- ^ school. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.0.1). Retrieved November 29, 2006, from Dictionary.com website[17]
- ^ shrewdness. (n.d.). The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Retrieved November 29, 2006, from Dictionary.com website[18]
- ^ skulk. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.0.1). Retrieved November 29, 2006, from Dictionary.com website[19]
- ^ sounder. (n.d.). The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Retrieved November 29, 2006, from Dictionary.com website[20]
- ^ stable. (n.d.). The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Retrieved November 29, 2006, from Dictionary.com website[21]
- ^ string. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.0.1). Retrieved November 29, 2006, from Dictionary.com website[22]
- ^ team. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.0.1). Retrieved November 29, 2006, from Dictionary.com website[23]
- ^ team. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.0.1). Retrieved November 29, 2006, from Dictionary.com website[24]
- ^ trip. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.0.1). Retrieved November 29, 2006, from Dictionary.com website[25]
- ^ yoke. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.0.1). Retrieved November 29, 2006, from Dictionary.com website[26]
- ^ cete. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.0.1). Retrieved November 29, 2006, from Dictionary.com website[27]
- ^ sloth. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.0.1). Retrieved November 29, 2006, from Dictionary.com website[28]