- proper terms
- proper termsThis is the technical name for terms denoting groups of animals and birds, such as flight (of swallows) and pride (of lions), and occasionally people. Some, such as herd, have more general application (e.g. to cows, sheep, and elephants), while others are peculiar to one context and are largely fanciful inventions that have been passed from one antiquarian writer to another without any real authority in usage (e.g. a siege of herons and a knob of waterfowl). The table below lists these in alphabetical order of the animal or bird concerned. Those marked with an asterisk (*) are recorded in special lists of proper terms that were popular in the 15c, notably the Book of St Albans attributed to Juliana Barnes (1486).item / termapes / shrewdnessasses / herd or *pacebadgers / *cetebears / *sloth or *sleuthbees / hive, swarm, drift, or bikebirds / flock or flightboar / sounderboys / blushbuffalo / herd or gangcats / *clowder or *glaringcattle / herd or drovechickens / brood or *peepcolts / *rag or *rakecooks / *hastinesscoots / *covertcranes / herdcurlew / herddeer / herd or mobdogs / pack or kenneldoves / flight, *dole, or *piteousnessducks / (on water) raft, bunch, or paddling; (in flight) teamelephants / herdelk / herd or (AmE) gangferrets / *businessfinches / charm or *chirmfish / shoalflies / cloudforesters / *stalkfoxes / *skulkgeese / gaggle or (in the air) skein, team, or wedgegiraffes / herdgoats / flock, herd, or (dialect) tripgrouse / pack or coveyhares / *husk or *downhawks / casthermits / *observanceherons / *siegehorses / team; (breeding) stud or *harashounds / kennel, pack, cry, or *muteinsects / flight or swarmkangaroos / mob or troopkittens / kindleladies / bevylapwing / *desertlarks / *exaltation or bevyleopards / *leaplions / pridemagpies / *tidingmallard / *sord or *sute (= suit)martens / *richessemerchants / *faithmoles / *labourmonkeys / troopmules / *barrennightingales / *watchnuns / *superfluitypartridges / coveypeacocks / *musterpedlars / malapertness (= impertinence)penguins / rookerypheasants / head or (dialect) nyepigeons / kit (flying together)pigs / herdplovers / stand, wing, or *congregationporpoises / herd, pod, or schoolprisoners / *pitypups / litterquail / bevy or driftracehorses / stringravens / *unkindnessroes / bevyrooks / parliament or *buildingseals / herd or rockery; pod (= small herd)sheep / flock or herd; (dialect) drift or tripsheldrake / *droppingsnipe / wisp or *walksparrows / *hoststarlings / *murmurationswallows / flightswans / game or herd; wedge (in the air)swine / herd; *sounder (tame), *drift (wild)waterfowl / bunch or knobwhales / school, herd, or gam; pod (= small school)widgeon / company or tripwildfowl / bunch, trip, or plump; knob (less than 30)wolves / pack or *routwomen / gaggle (derisive)woodcock / *fallwrens / herd
Modern English usage. 2014.