Nikon choir
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English
[edit]Alternative forms
[edit]Etymology
[edit]From Nikon (a brand of camera often used by professional photographers) + choir. The brand Nikon, which dates from 1946, is a blend of Japanese 日本光学 (Nippon Kōgaku, “Japan Optical”) (from 日本光学工業株式会社 (Nippon Kōgaku Kōgyō Kabushikigaisha, “Japan Optical Industries Corporation”)) and Ikon, a camera brand owned by Carl Zeiss AG.
Pronunciation
[edit]- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈnɪkɒn kwaɪə(ɹ)/
- (General American) IPA(key): /ˈnaɪkɒn kwaɪɚ/
Audio (General Australian): (file) - Hyphenation: Ni‧kon choir
Noun
[edit]Nikon choir (plural Nikon choirs)
- (chiefly British, idiomatic) A large group of photographers simultaneously capturing images of a celebrity, producing numerous photographic flashes along with an accompanying din of clicking camera shutters.
- 1991 July 28, Roxanne Roberts, “State of the union, ten years after”, in The Washington Post[1], archived from the original on 25 August 2016, page F01:
- 2004 October 24, “Harry: ‘Spare heir’ with a tendency to snap”, in The Times of India (reprinted from The Sunday Times, London)[2], retrieved 31 August 2016:
- [A]fter drinking vodka and cranberry juice at the Pangaea nightclub in the West End, he came out at to be confronted by the "Nikon choir" of paparazzi.
- 2013 July 23, Michael Cole, “Thinking of the late Princess Diana as her first grandchild is born”, in East Anglian Daily Times[3], archived from the original on 31 August 2016:
- Fortunately, the Royal baby has sensible parents. […] I congratulate them on how they managed to arrive at St Mary's hospital without the Nikon Choir outside getting sight of them.
Usage notes
[edit]The term is used especially with reference to press photographers who cover members of the British Royal Family.