Owls are usually found singly or in pairs rather than in large groups. One that doesn’t seem to fit is a parliament of owls. Even an unkindness of ravens was originally related to their supposed habit of turfing chicks out of nests. Sue says many traditional collective nouns incorporate a characteristic of the animal’s behaviour, such as a pride of lions or a cloud of gnats. “But the way mob is used by indigenous groups for themselves is peculiar to Australia.” “A mob is an untidy collection, whereas a pack is much more orderly,” Sue says. Dingoes became a pack of wild dogs, and one term that we like to think is Australian, a mob of kangaroos (also applied to sheep and cattle), is used elsewhere in the world for other groups of animals. Rather than Australians developing their own collective nouns, they just applied conventional terms to the new area and new groups of animals, says Sue Butler, editor of the Macquarie Dictionary. “By and large they’re falling out of use.” Best collective nouns “Young squires and knights wanting to learn hunting had to learn a whole range of terms, such as a brace of deer or grouse,” he says. Roly Sussex, Emeritus Professor of Applied Language studies at the University of Queensland, says they were used by those wishing to boost their social status. Many of these were for groups of animals, and some are still in use today, such as a gaggle of geese. When caught: Catch, Drought, HaulĬollective nouns for reptiles and amphibians AnimalĬollective nouns for invertebrates (including insects, molluscs etc.The book about ‘gentlemen’s interests’ became popular, and the terms widely accepted as correct English. Sord (flying), Brace (two that havce been hunted and killed)īouquet, Brace (couple hunted and killed), Nest, Nide, Nye,ĭraft, Nest, School, Shoal (some academics argue that ‘School’ is incorrect, and that Shoal should be used instead). Team, Harras, Rag (colts), Stud (a group of horses owned by one person), String (for ponies)ĭrift, Drove, Litter (piglets), Sounder (swine only), Team, Passel (hogs only), Singular (for boars)Ĭolony, Warren, Nest, Herd (domesticated only), Litter (young rabbits), Down (hares), husk (hares)īrace (for a couple of birds that have been killed when hunted), Flight (when flying), Flock (when on the ground), Volaryīrood, Peep, Young chickens: Chattering, Clutchīalding, Brace (a couple of hunted and killed ducks), Flock (flying), Paddling (on water), Raft (on water), Teamīoil (when spiraling in flight), Cast, Kettle (large amount of flying hawks) Litter (puppies), Pack (if wild), Cowardice (curs), Leash(Greyhounds). ![]() Collective nouns for mammals & marsupials AnimalĬlowder, Pounce (Kittens: Kindle, Litter, Intrigue), Destruction (wild cats) For example, both Bats and Ants can be found in a ‘Colony’. Have a look at Cats, Dogs and Horses in the list below. Some collective nouns are used for more than one animal. Albans”, dating back to 1486, was a guide to hawking and hunting, and listed many of the collective nouns for animals we still use today.įor some animals, there is more than one collective noun, reflecting how close people have been to them througout history. ![]() These collective nouns can have a long history, and have been developed since medieval times.įor example, the “Book of St. If you would like to add to or amend this list, please leave a comment below. Below is a list of the collective nouns for animals.
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