List of English terms of venery, by animal
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(Redirected from List of collective nouns)
This is a list of English terms of venery (venery being an archaic word for hunting), comprising terms from a tradition that arose in the Late Middle Ages, at least partly from the Book of Saint Albans of 1486. The list also includes more common collective terms (such as herd and flock) for some animals.
Standard terms for particular groups are listed first in each group and shown in bold.
-
This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries.
Subject | Collective noun | Notes | Sources |
---|---|---|---|
A | |||
alligators | congregation | [1] | |
antelopes | herd | [2][3] | |
ants | army | [1] | |
colony | [1][2] | ||
nest | [1] | ||
swarm | [1] | ||
apes | shrewdness | [3][4][5] | |
troop | [1] | ||
asses | herd | [1] | |
drove | driven in a group | [1] | |
pace or passe | [1][2] | ||
B | |||
baboons | troop | [1][5] | |
badgers | cete | [1][2][5][6] | |
bats | colony | [2] | |
bears | sleuth or sloth | [1][2][5] | |
beavers | colony | [1] | |
family | [1] | ||
bees | swarm | [5] | |
drift | [5] | ||
erst | [5] | ||
grist | [2] | ||
birds | flock | [5] | |
flight | [5] | ||
pod | [5] | ||
bitterns | sedge or sege | [2][4][7] | |
boars (wild boars) | sounder | 12 or more | [6] |
buffalo | herd | [2][5] | |
bullfinches | bellowing | [5] | |
bullocks | drove | driven in a group | [5] |
butterflies | swarm | [8] | |
flutter | [9] | ||
buzzards | wake | [1][2] | |
C | |||
camels | caravan | [1] | |
flock | [1] | ||
train | [1] | ||
capercaillie | tok | [10] | |
capons | mews | [11] | |
caribou | herd | [11] | |
cats | clowder | [1][2] | |
cluster | [1] | ||
clutter | [1] | ||
glaring | [1] | ||
pounce | [1][2] | ||
destruction | wild cats (feral cats) | [5][12] | |
caterpillars | army | [1] | |
cattle | herd | [1][2] | |
drove | [1][2] | ||
mob | driven in a group | [13] | |
chickens | brood | [1][5] | |
clutch | [5] | ||
peep | [1][5] | ||
choughs | chattering or clattering | [4][5][6][14][15] | |
cockroaches | intrusion | [1] | |
colts | rag | [2][5][6] | |
rake | [5] | ||
cormorants | gulp | [1][2] | |
coots | covert | [4][5] | |
coyotes | pack | ||
cranes | herd | [4][5] | |
sedge or sege | [2][7] | ||
crocodiles | bask | [1][2] | |
float | [1] | ||
crows | murder | [1][2][5][6] | |
curlews | herd | [4][5][6] | |
D | |||
deer | herd | [16] | |
parcel | [17] | ||
dogs | pack | [16] | |
dolphins | pod | [18][19] | |
dotterel | trip | [2][5][16][20] | |
doves | dole or dule | fanciful | [2][4][5][16] |
ducks | flock | [1] | |
badling | [2] | ||
paddling | on water | [1][2][5][16] | |
plump | [21][22] | ||
raft | on water | [1][2][5][16] | |
dunlins | fling | [5] | |
E | |||
eagles | convocation | [1][2] | |
eels | bed | [1] | |
swarm | [1] | ||
elephants | herd | [1][2] | |
memory | [1] | ||
elk | gang | [1][5][6] | |
herd | [1][5] | ||
emus | mob | [1] | |
F | |||
falcons | cast | [23] | |
ferrets | business | corruption over time of 'busyness' | [1][2][6] |
busyness | [4] | ||
besyness fesynes fesnyng feamyng |
ghost words arising from successive misspellings of "busyness" | [24] | |
finches | charm or chirm | [1][2][5] | |
fish | school | [1][2] | |
shoal | [1][2] | ||
flamingoes | stand | [1][2] | |
flies | business | [1][2] | |
cloud | [1] | ||
swarm | [1] | ||
foxes | leash | [1][2] | |
skulk | [1][2] | ||
frogs | army | [1][2] | |
G | |||
geese | flock | on land | [2][25] |
gaggle | on land | [1][2][25] | |
skein | in flight | [1][2][25] | |
giraffes | herd | [25] | |
gnats | cloud | [1][2][5][25] | |
horde | [1][2][25] | ||
goats | flock | [25] | |
goldfinches | charm | [25] | |
goosanders | dopping | [25] | |
gorillas | band | [1][2][25] | |
troop | [1] | ||
goshawks | flight | [4][25] | |
grasshoppers | cloud | [2][25] | |
grouse | covey | [5][25] | |
guineafowl | rasp | [26] | |
H | |||
hares | down | [27] | |
drove | [27] | ||
flick | [27] | ||
husk | [27] | ||
harts | herd | [27] | |
hawks | boil | two or more spiralling in flight | [1][2] |
cast | [1][2][4][5] | ||
kettle | flying in large numbers | [1][2] | |
lease | [4] | ||
hedgehogs | array | [27] | |
herons | sedge or sege | [1][2][4][6][7][27] | |
siege | [1][2][5][27] | ||
hippopotamuses | bloat | [1][2][27] | |
hogs | parcel | See also boars, pigs, swine | [28][29] |
hornets | bike | [27] | |
nest | [2] | ||
swarm | [27] | ||
horses | team | in harness | [1][2][27] |
band | [1] | ||
haras or harrase | [2][27] | ||
herd | [1][27] | ||
stable | [1][27] | ||
string | [1][2][27] | ||
stud | [2][27] | ||
hounds | pack | [27] | |
cry | [27] | ||
hunt | [27] | ||
meet | [27] | ||
mute | [27] | ||
stable | [27] | ||
hyenas | cackle | [1][2] | |
I | |||
ibex | herd | [30] | |
ibises | colony | [30] | |
iguanas | mess | [30] | |
insects | flight | [30] | |
horde | [30] | ||
plague | [30] | ||
rabble | [30] | ||
swarm | [30] | ||
J | |||
jackdaws | clattering | [31] | |
train | [31][32] | ||
jays | band | [1] | |
party | [1][2] | ||
scold | [1][2] | ||
jellyfish | fluther | [5] | |
smack | [1][2][5] | ||
K | |||
kangaroos | mob | [1] | |
troop | [1][2] | ||
kittens | kindle | [5] | |
L | |||
lapwings | deceit or desert | [2][4][5][6][33] | |
larks | bevy | [5] | |
exaltation | [4][5][6] | ||
leopards | leap or lepe | [1][2][5] | |
lions | pride | [1][2][5] | |
sawt | [5] | ||
locusts | plague | [2] | |
M | |||
mackerel | shoal | [34] | |
magpies | charm | [2] | |
congregation | [34] | ||
gulp | [2] | ||
murder | [2] | ||
tiding | [2][4][5][34] | ||
tittering | [34] | ||
mallards | flush | [34] | |
puddling | [34] | ||
sord | [2][5][34] | ||
suit or sute | [5][34] | ||
mares | stud | [5][6][34] | |
martens | richesse or richness | [2][5][34] | |
mice | nest | [1][34] | |
trip | [34] | ||
minnows | shoal | [34] | |
moles | company | [34] | |
labor or labour | [1][2][5][34] | ||
monkeys | barrel | [1][2] | |
cartload | [34] | ||
tribe | [34] | ||
troop | [2][5][34] | ||
wilderness | [35] | ||
moorhens | plump | [34] | |
moose | herd | [1][34] | |
mosquitoes | scourge | [34] | |
mudhens | fleet | [34] | |
mules | barren | [1][2][5][6][34] | |
pack | [2][34] | ||
rake | [34] | ||
span | [1][2][34] | ||
N | |||
nightingales | watch | [4][5] | |
O | |||
owls | parliament | [1][2][6] | |
oxen | drove | [1] | |
team | [1][2] | ||
yoke | [1][2] | ||
oysters | bed | [1][2] | |
P | |||
parrots | company | [1][2] | |
pandemonium | [1] | ||
partridges | covey | [2][5] | |
peacocks | muster | [2][5][6] | |
ostentation | [1][2] | ||
pride | [1] | ||
pelicans | pod | [1] | |
pheasants | bouquet | [1][2] | |
head | [5] | ||
nest | [2] | ||
nide | [2] | ||
nye | [1][2][5][6] | ||
pigs | drift | See also boars, hogs, swine | [1][2] |
drove | [1][2] | ||
pigeons | kit | flying together | [5] |
plovers | congregation | [4][5] | |
stand | [5] | ||
wing | [5] | ||
Q | |||
quail | bevy | [1][2][4][5] | |
covey | [1][2] | ||
drift | [5] | ||
R | |||
rabbits | colony | [2][36] | |
fluffle | [36] | ||
nest | [2] | ||
herd | domestic only | [2] | |
litter | young rabbits only | [2] | |
raccoons | gaze | [1] | |
ravens | unkindness | [4][5] | |
rhinoceroses | crash | [1][2][5] | |
rooks | building | [4][5] | |
parliament | [5][6] | ||
S | |||
salmon | bind | [37] | |
draught | [37] | ||
run | [37] | ||
sandpipers | fling | [37] | |
seals | herd | [37] | |
pod | [37] | ||
rookery | [37] | ||
sea urchins | herd | [38][39] | |
sheep | flock | [1][2][37] | |
down | [37] | ||
drift | when driven in a group | [37] | |
drove | when driven in a group | [2][37] | |
herd | [2][37] | ||
hurtle | [1][37] | ||
meinie | [37] | ||
mob | [37] | ||
pack | [1] | ||
parcel | [37] | ||
trip | [37] | ||
sheldrake | dopping | [37][40] | |
snails | escargatoire | [37] | |
rout | [37] | ||
walk | [37] | ||
snakes | bed | [1] | |
den | [1] | ||
knot | [1] | ||
nest | [2] | ||
pit | [1] | ||
snipes | walk | [5][6][37] | |
whisp or wisp | [5][37] | ||
sparrows | host | [1][2][4][5][37] | |
meinie | [37] | ||
tribe | [37] | ||
spiders | cluster or clutter | [1][37] | |
squirrels | colony | [37] | |
dray | [1][2] | ||
scurry | [1][2] | ||
starlings | chattering | [1][14][37] | |
clattering | [37] | ||
cloud | [37] | ||
congregation | [37] | ||
murmuration | [1][4][5][6][37] | ||
stoats | pack | [37] | |
trip | [37] | ||
storks | flight | [37] | |
mustering | [1][2][37] | ||
phalanx | when migrating | [37] | |
swallows | flight | [1][2][37] | |
gulp | [37] | ||
swans | bank | on the ground | [1][37] |
bevy | [1][2][37] | ||
drift | [37] | ||
eyrar | [37] | ||
flight | [1] | ||
game | [5][37] | ||
herd | [1][37] | ||
lamentation | fanciful | [37] | |
sownder | [37] | ||
team | [37] | ||
wedge | in flight | [1][2][5][37] | |
whiting | [37] | ||
swifts | flock | [37] | |
scream | [41] | ||
swine | doylt | See also boars, hogs, pigs | [37] |
drift | [6][37] | ||
trip | [37] | ||
T | |||
teal | spring | [2][4][5] | |
tigers | ambush | [1] | |
streak | [1][2] | ||
toads | knot | [1][2] | |
nest | [1] | ||
trout | hover | [1][2] | |
turkeys | gang | [2] | |
rafter | [1][2] | ||
turtles | bale | [1][2] | |
dole | [1] | ||
nest | [2] | ||
turtle doves | dole or dule | [4] | |
pitying | [2] | ||
U | |||
V | |||
vipers | nest | [2] | |
W | |||
walruses | herd | [2] | |
pod | [2] | ||
waterfowl | bunch | [5] | |
knob | [5] | ||
raft | [5] | ||
weasels | colony | [1] | |
pack | [1] | ||
whales | gam | [1][2] | |
herd | [2] | ||
mob | [1] | ||
pod | [1][2] | ||
wigeons | company | [2][5] | |
trip | [5] | ||
wildfowl | bunch | [5] | |
knob | fewer than 30[not in citation given] | [5] | |
plump | [5] | ||
trip | [5] | ||
wolves | pack | [1][2] | |
rout or route | when in movement | [1][2] | |
wombats | wisdom | [42] | |
woodcocks | fall | [2][4][5] | |
woodpeckers | descent | [1][2][5] | |
wrens | herd | [4][5] | |
X | |||
Y | |||
Z | |||
zebras | herd | [1][43] | |
cohort | [43] | ||
dazzle | [44] | ||
zeal | [1][43] |
See also
References
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- ↑ 1.000 1.001 1.002 1.003 1.004 1.005 1.006 1.007 1.008 1.009 1.010 1.011 1.012 1.013 1.014 1.015 1.016 1.017 1.018 1.019 1.020 1.021 1.022 1.023 1.024 1.025 1.026 1.027 1.028 1.029 1.030 1.031 1.032 1.033 1.034 1.035 1.036 1.037 1.038 1.039 1.040 1.041 1.042 1.043 1.044 1.045 1.046 1.047 1.048 1.049 1.050 1.051 1.052 1.053 1.054 1.055 1.056 1.057 1.058 1.059 1.060 1.061 1.062 1.063 1.064 1.065 1.066 1.067 1.068 1.069 1.070 1.071 1.072 1.073 1.074 1.075 1.076 1.077 1.078 1.079 1.080 1.081 1.082 1.083 1.084 1.085 1.086 1.087 1.088 1.089 1.090 1.091 1.092 1.093 1.094 1.095 1.096 1.097 1.098 1.099 1.100 1.101 1.102 1.103 1.104 1.105 1.106 1.107 1.108 1.109 1.110 1.111 1.112 1.113 1.114 1.115 1.116 1.117 1.118 1.119 1.120 1.121 1.122 1.123 1.124 1.125 1.126 1.127 1.128 1.129 1.130 1.131 1.132 1.133 1.134 1.135 1.136 1.137 1.138 1.139 1.140 1.141 1.142 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 2.000 2.001 2.002 2.003 2.004 2.005 2.006 2.007 2.008 2.009 2.010 2.011 2.012 2.013 2.014 2.015 2.016 2.017 2.018 2.019 2.020 2.021 2.022 2.023 2.024 2.025 2.026 2.027 2.028 2.029 2.030 2.031 2.032 2.033 2.034 2.035 2.036 2.037 2.038 2.039 2.040 2.041 2.042 2.043 2.044 2.045 2.046 2.047 2.048 2.049 2.050 2.051 2.052 2.053 2.054 2.055 2.056 2.057 2.058 2.059 2.060 2.061 2.062 2.063 2.064 2.065 2.066 2.067 2.068 2.069 2.070 2.071 2.072 2.073 2.074 2.075 2.076 2.077 2.078 2.079 2.080 2.081 2.082 2.083 2.084 2.085 2.086 2.087 2.088 2.089 2.090 2.091 2.092 2.093 2.094 2.095 2.096 2.097 2.098 2.099 2.100 2.101 2.102 2.103 2.104 2.105 2.106 2.107 2.108 2.109 2.110 2.111 2.112 2.113 2.114 2.115 2.116 2.117 2.118 2.119 2.120 2.121 2.122 2.123 2.124 2.125 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 4.19 4.20 4.21 4.22 4.23 4.24 4.25 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 5.15 5.16 5.17 5.18 5.19 5.20 5.21 5.22 5.23 5.24 5.25 5.26 5.27 5.28 5.29 5.30 5.31 5.32 5.33 5.34 5.35 5.36 5.37 5.38 5.39 5.40 5.41 5.42 5.43 5.44 5.45 5.46 5.47 5.48 5.49 5.50 5.51 5.52 5.53 5.54 5.55 5.56 5.57 5.58 5.59 5.60 5.61 5.62 5.63 5.64 5.65 5.66 5.67 5.68 5.69 5.70 5.71 5.72 5.73 5.74 5.75 5.76 5.77 5.78 5.79 5.80 5.81 5.82 5.83 5.84 5.85 5.86 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 6.12 6.13 6.14 6.15 6.16 6.17 6.18 6.19 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Definition of Sege by the Free Online Dictionary
- ↑ http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/
- ↑ http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/bugs/monarch-butterfly/
- ↑ British Trust for Ornithology - BirdFacts - Capercaillie
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Definition of Destruction by the Free Online Dictionary
- ↑ mob. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged. Retrieved November 30, 2015 from Dictionary.com website http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/mob
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Definition of Chattering by the Free Online Dictionary
- ↑ Definition of Clattering by the Free Online Dictionary
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 16.5 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Full text of "Days of deer-stalking in the Scottish Highlands; including an account of the nature and habits of the red deer, a description of the Scottish forests, and histor...
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ A Pod of Dolphins - NASA Mars Collection
- ↑ British Trust for Ornithology - BirdFacts - Dotterel
- ↑ http://dictionary.infoplease.com/plump
- ↑ Plump[4] - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 25.00 25.01 25.02 25.03 25.04 25.05 25.06 25.07 25.08 25.09 25.10 25.11 25.12 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 27.00 27.01 27.02 27.03 27.04 27.05 27.06 27.07 27.08 27.09 27.10 27.11 27.12 27.13 27.14 27.15 27.16 27.17 27.18 27.19 27.20 27.21 27.22 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 30.3 30.4 30.5 30.6 30.7 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 31.0 31.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ British Trust for Ornithology - BirdFacts - Lapwing
- ↑ 34.00 34.01 34.02 34.03 34.04 34.05 34.06 34.07 34.08 34.09 34.10 34.11 34.12 34.13 34.14 34.15 34.16 34.17 34.18 34.19 34.20 34.21 34.22 34.23 34.24 34.25 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Shakespeare, Merchant of Venice, Act III, Scene i
- ↑ 36.0 36.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 37.00 37.01 37.02 37.03 37.04 37.05 37.06 37.07 37.08 37.09 37.10 37.11 37.12 37.13 37.14 37.15 37.16 37.17 37.18 37.19 37.20 37.21 37.22 37.23 37.24 37.25 37.26 37.27 37.28 37.29 37.30 37.31 37.32 37.33 37.34 37.35 37.36 37.37 37.38 37.39 37.40 37.41 37.42 37.43 37.44 37.45 37.46 37.47 37.48 37.49 37.50 37.51 37.52 37.53 37.54 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Definition of Dopping by the Free Online Dictionary
- ↑ British Trust for Ornithology - BirdFacts - Swift
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 43.0 43.1 43.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.