Terms for groups

Byron · Post by **Byron** » Fri May 02, 2003 5:54 pm

Whilst administering to the needs of our elderly pussy cat I had a strange feeling. I suddenly realised that it was a 'thought' in process. I want to ask you if you would like to, or would enjoy, taking part in a piece of whimsy with me?
I know how fertile you are when it comes to puns and this sort of thing appeals to me.

Here are some examples to start us off.

a clowder or glaring of cats.
a watch of nightingales (for p)
a bevy of ladies.

I think we could have some light hearted fun with this and it could run for as long as people have brainwaves.

An unofficial one which I like is

a quarrel of lawyers.

I know that one of our local radio stations ran this a couple of months ago and there were some absolute howlers.

If we throw it open to our international throng, we could get a really good mix.

My trusty Oxford Dictionary has a large list of examples, of which some date back to the 15th century.

Our daily lives are filled with events and people who could be tied together in similar groups. Have a think about it and we'll see what the response is. We don't have to present long pieces of discussion and argument, but little bits of 'fluff' which will appeal to some if not all of us.

Jo · Post by Jo » Fri May 02, 2003 6:55 pm

A lie of politicians.

Byron · Post by **Byron** » Sat May 03, 2003 1:28 am

I've just thought of this one.

A horde of bankers!!

And this.

A quest of travellers.

linmag · Post by **linmag** » Sat May 03, 2003 1:41 am

This is not strictly what you had in mind, Byron, but does anyone know the origin of a murder of crows?

Andrew McGeever · Post by **Andrew McGeever** » Sat May 03, 2003 2:01 am

Dear Byron,
You are inviting us to play the "collective noun " game. I recall the time when we sat by the fireside, longing for fuel, and play with words, being cheaper to conjour than coal or wood.
I've never understood why it's a "pride of lions", though I am more attracted to a "murder of crows".
While I try to warm myself, please accept a nonsense of poets.
Andrew.

Andrew McGeever · Post by **Andrew McGeever** » Sat May 03, 2003 2:18 am

Dear Linmag,
I posted my message seconds before you, and when I clicked on the "view your message" button, your post appeared after mine.
The strange thing is that we both, independently, quoted the same collective noun......a murder of crows.
This is weird, I kid you not!
Andrew.

Jo · Post by Jo » Sat May 03, 2003 8:55 am

A haggle of forum members.

linmag · Post by **linmag** » Sat May 03, 2003 10:45 am

What's really weird, Andrew, is that on my computer my message was timed at 10.41 and yours at 11.01, not exactly seconds before mine

I wonder if the timing of messages changes depending on when individual computers received the signal, or perhaps it's when the message was started rather than when it was actually posted?

I first heard 'murder of crows' in a line of a song by Sting "fussin' and flappin' in priestly black like a murder of crows", and the image was so apposite that I thought at first he might have made it up, but of course I have heard it again since. I should have known better, really, him being an English teacher and all.

Byron · Post by **Byron** » Sat May 03, 2003 1:46 pm

A 'Hum' of Cohenites?

linmag · Post by **linmag** » Sat May 03, 2003 2:06 pm

Or, from another perspective, a misery of Cohenites

Partisan · Post by **Partisan** » Sat May 03, 2003 3:14 pm

Cohenists.

p.

George.Wright · Post by **George.Wright** » Sat May 03, 2003 3:52 pm

Paltry Cohenites...................the lost tribe of Dan your man
georges

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Sat May 03, 2003 5:45 pm

a blathering of poets

Andrew McGeever · Post by **Andrew McGeever** » Sat May 03, 2003 8:01 pm

Dear Linmag,
You may be right about the delay between the message being posted and when it appears on the screen, but I can honestly say that your message was not before my eyes when I replied to Byron: I first met a "murder of crows" in a poetry in practice class I attended some years ago. The writer was an American poet on a year's travel abroad: we spent some time analysing his poem, and started a discussion about the use of collective nouns in poetry. I think I have a copy of his poem (and hence his name!), and I'll be happy to post it to you.
In the meantime, please accept the coincidence.....and let's both find the root of "a murder of crows". That's our homework!
Yours,
Andrew.

Byron · Post by **Byron** » Sat May 03, 2003 9:29 pm

Brainstorm arrivals during my dinner; (while masticating and cogitating) The family are very understanding!

A brood of pessimists

A cue of newsreaders

A cast of bookworms

Boom-boom! After Marina my favourite was Basil Brush. (t'other thread)