![]() Treatises on hunting and hawking were very popular, and whenever the subject appeared in the 15th century, so too did lists of venery terms. There was, at that time, something of a fad for "terms of venery," or names for groups of game animals. This use of murder goes back to the 1400s. Unlike many collective nouns, this sense of murder even has enough evidence in print to merit entry into our dictionaries. One of our best-known (and easily meme-able) collective nouns is a murder of crows. And this may be why we love the more fanciful collective nouns so much. In the end, there is no cut-and-dried rule for how to refer to a particular group of creatures. Dogs come in packs elephants in herds people in a variety of conglomerations. But not all social animals come in colonies. But that's not to say that swarm isn't applied to other creatures: a swarm of eels was once common enough to merit mention in our Unabridged Dictionary.Ĭolony tends to be used of specific populations of animals that are settled in a place-a colony of rabbits or bees, for instance. When applied to other creatures, swarm tends to be used of other insects, and particularly ones that fly-locusts, fireflies, cockroaches. Its earliest uses were for great assemblies of bees on the wing, and indeed swarm of bees is still common. Perhaps swarm is an easier collective noun to get one's hands on. Herd, a word most people associate with deer, horses, or cattle, has been used of porpoises, seals, and birds, and flock, a word we now associate with sheep and birds, has been used of elephants, lions, camels, and pigs. Historically, a herd was any group of animals traveling or eating together, as was a flock, and this jumble continued on into the modern era. ![]() But herd and flock are also used of game animals in set phrases-a herd of deer a flock of geese. In this particular use, herd tends to be used of cattle or other bovine animals, and flock tends to be used of sheep and goats. Both herd and flock are used of animals (and usually farm animals) that are domesticated and kept under the care of a person. Fish also come in shoals, which comes from an Old English word that means "multitudes." If it's a group of one type of aquatic mammal-whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals-then they tend to gather in pods.īut once we get out of the sea, the rules for what to generically call groups of creatures get more complicated. No, not that school: this particular word comes from a Middle Dutch word that refers to a group of animals together. The fish-true fish, at any rate-are the easiest to classify. But what distinguishes a herd from a flock, or a swarm from a colony? And what do you call a group of fish? ![]() ![]() These collective nouns involving the word "caravan" vividly illustrate the concept of groups or collections associated with various aspects of travel, transportation, and communal living.Ask someone about collective nouns and they're liable to holler "a murder of crows!" or "an exaltation of larks!" While the dramatic collective nouns are the ones that get the most attention, we use a number of collective terms every day. In these cases, a group of individuals with their RVs travel together, emulating the sense of community, safety, and shared experiences. Caravan of RVs: In recreational settings, caravans of recreational vehicles (RVs) often occur. These communal caravans allowed them to create tight-knit societies and maintain their nomadic way of life.ĥ. Caravan of Gypsies: Historically, groups of gypsies, also known as Romani people, have traveled in caravans. This collection of trailers and trucks represents the logistical support system behind putting up spectacular shows.Ĥ. Caravan of circus Vehicles: In the world of circus performance, a caravan of vehicles transports equipment, animals, and performers from one location to another. These caravans often occur when related goods or similar industries collaborate to transport their cargo more cost-effectively and safely.ģ. Caravan of Trucks: Along long stretches of highways or in transportation hubs, a caravan of trucks may be spotted. These groupings allow the camels to travel efficiently, distribute resources, and gain protection from potential predators.Ģ. Caravan of Camels: In deserts and arid regions around the world, camels are often seen traveling in caravans. Here are some "caravan" collective noun examples:ġ. When it comes to the word "caravan," it can function as a collective noun when referring to a specific group of things or animals associated with caravanning. Collective Noun Examples: A Caravan of _Ī collective noun refers to a group or collection of similar items or individuals.
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