History of Collective Types of Nouns

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Nouns
Collective Nouns
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Although typically words that identify more than one person, place, or thing are
made plural in the English language, collective nouns are an exception. This unique
class of nouns denotes a group of people, animals, objects, or concepts or ideas as
a single entity.
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History of Collective Types of

Nouns
Like most linguistic developments, collective nouns have developed through time as
a result of many different aspects. Venery nouns, those nouns used to specifically
signify groups of animals, developed as a result of fifteenth century English hunting
practices. Experienced hunters were educated in discussing groups of animals in
specific collective ways, sometimes in reference to the animal's activities or habits.
Uses of these phrases were also distinguished upper-class gentry from middle class
agricultural workers. Other collective nouns are calledderivational collectives --
derived as a result of language relationships and maintaining root word tendencies.
Gradual shifts in the ways that words are used and understood have also
contributed to the formation of this special class of nouns.
Collective, Countable, and Mass

Nouns
Confused about the differences between these types of nouns?
• Countable nouns are nouns that can be counted, modified by a number or

quantified with size, amount, or value related words, and can appear in both
singular and plural form.
• Mass nouns, also referred to as non-count nouns, signify unbounded
amounts, such as liquid, small objects, and abstract or immeasurable
concepts. For example, "water," "rice," and "education" can all be considered
mass nouns. A noun is considered a mass noun when its use cannot be
counted, modified or quantified in a relevant and logical manner
linguistically.
• Collective nouns are considered a subset of count nouns because they refer
to a group of countable nouns as a unit. For example, there are 12 eggs in
dozen, and there are 52 cards in a deck.
Common Collective Nouns

There are many types of nouns that refer to units or groups in a collective sense.
Some of the most common include:
• Army
• Array
• Audience
• Band
• Bevy
• Board
• Bunch
• Cabinet
• Cast
• Choir/Chorus
• Class
• Cloud
• Committee
• Company
• Congregation
• Corporation
• Council
• Crowd
• Department
• Faculty
• Family
• Firm
• Gang
• Group
• Jury
• Majority
• Minority
• Navy
• Party
• Plethora
• Public
• School
• Senate
• Society
• Staff
• Team
• Troupe
Common collective animal nouns
include:
• Brood
• Colony
• Clutch
• Drove
• Flight
• Flock
• Gaggle
• Herd
• Hive
• Litter
• Nest
• Pack
• Plague
• Pride
• Skein
• Swarm
• Team
• Tribe
• Troop
• Yoke
Using Nouns in the Collective Class

Correctly
Nouns in the collective class can be used in either the singular or plural form
depending on the context of the sentence. For example, family is a collective noun
because it refers to more than one person sharing a relationship or camaraderie.
However, you can also use this as a plural in referring to groups of families.
Using collective nouns in sentences can be confusing because it's sometimes
difficult to discern whether to use plural or singular verbs and pronouns. To use
verbs and pronouns correctly, identify whether the collective noun refers to a group
or unit working as individualsor in unison. When the unit is acting in unison, it is
appropriate to use the singular. When the members of the unit are acting as
individuals, it is appropriate to use plural forms of verbs and pronouns. For
example:
• The class waits [singular verb] for its [singular pronoun] teacher quietly.
(The class is referred to as a unit acting in unison. The students are all doing
the same thing at the same time.)
• The class begin [plural verb] their [plural pronoun] homework assignments
while they [plural pronoun] wait [plural verb] for their [plural pronoun]
teacher. (The students are a unit, but are acting as individuals -- they each
doing their own homework assignments.)
When group nouns signify units acting as individuals rather than in unison, it is also
appropriate to add or replace words to create reference to the individuals – for
example, adding the word "members" after collectives like board or committee, or
inserting "players" for "team" or "students" for "class."
Fun with Nouns

Many singular nouns have very unique collective forms that pertain specifically to
that term. While most people are familiar with the more commonly used collectives
such as a class of students or crowd of people, there are a large number of less
common collectives. Many people find it interesting to read and learn what the
appropriate collective forms of various nouns are. Many teachers, students, and
other lovers of the English language also find it entertaining to list original
collectives or come up with new ways to use them in fun or ironic ways.
For more fun uses of collectives,

visit:
• Ojohaven Collective Noun Page
• Rinkworks Fun with Words
• Beastly Garden of Wordy Delights
• Idiosyncrasies of the English Language – Humorous Collectives Page
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Teacher and Student Resources

There are a variety of online and printable worksheets, quizzes, and activities
focused on collective and mass nouns that may be helpful resources for teachers
and students. These include:
• Formula Fusion Collective Animal Nouns Game

• ABC Teach Collective Noun Worksheet
• Middle School Noun Lesson Plan
• Paul Vigay's Nouns
• Print
• E-mail
• Link/Cite
• Bookmark
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pronunciation provided by LoveToKnow, Corp.
The Collective Nouns
There are two varieties of collective noun listed here. When i receive a
submission, i check all available sources for a reference. If i find one (in, for
instance, a dictionary), i denote it here as a "submission". If i don't, i denote it a
"suggestion". Feel free to submit a collective noun if you don't find it here. The
goal is not (yet) to be comprehensive - merely entertaining.
This list is alphabetical by the collective noun. You'll note that there are
multiple listings for a few types, for instance, "a hive of bees" and "a swarm of
bees". These typically refer to terms that stem from different types of
collection. In the example, "hive" is from the domicile of bees, and "swarm" is
from a group of flying bees. This will be noted, and derivation given, where
possible and confirmed. Please feel free to submit derivations (or even
corrections!) for verification.
Jump List: Submit | Rules | Mailing List | Bibliography | Related
Info | Credits | Feedback
The Collective Noun Page | Linguistic Fun Page | OjoHaven
• An aarmory of aardvarks (-submitted by ojo6-)

• An abandonment of orphans (-suggested by Toni Stern, via Gerald
'Jerry' Rounds, bloodflame@dellnet.com-)
• An abominable sight of monks (-submitted by ojo6-)
• An absence of waiters (-suggested by Alexander Page,
alexander.page@hamburg.netsurf.de-)
• An accompaniment of condiments (-suggested by David Lloyd-
Mostyn, MUS9JAC@leeds.ac.uk-)
• An addition of mathematicians (-suggested by RP4-)
• An agenda of tasks (-submitted by Jason Harris,
harrij1@weiss.che.utexas.edu-)
• An amble of walkers (-suggested by RP4-)
• An ambush of widows (-suggested by Angi Drew,
A.Drew@sussex.ac.uk-)
• An annoyance of mobile phones (-suggested by
kenneth.crane@ntlworld.com-)
• An anthology of prostitutes (derivation: see below5 -suggested by
Mic Bergen, mbergen@anacreon.com-)
• An anvil of blacksmiths (-suggested by RP4-)
• An archive of programmers (-suggested by Frank A. Geisel,
frankie@mtg.saic.com-)
• An armada of ships (-submitted by Jason Harris,
• An army of caterpillars (-CCW2-)
• An army of frogs (-MG3-)
• An array of luminaries (-suggested by R, K, & F,
infoman@gte.net)
• An assemblage of jigsaw puzzlers (-suggested by R, K, & F,
infoman@gte.net)
• An assembly of toys (-suggested by Brian French,
brian.french@pwgsc.gc.ca-)
• An asylum of managers (-suggested by Rodney Jude,
Rodney.Jude@tesco.net-)
• An atlas of maps (-submitted by David Bannister,
db@antiquemaps.co.uk, from the CD-ROM version of the OED-)
• An attitude of teenagers (-suggested by RP4-)
• An audit of accountants (-suggested by Richard Blackwell,
richard@planetsymphony.com-)
• An audit of bookkeepers (-suggested by Richard Blackwell,
richard@planetsymphony.com-)
• An aurora of polar bears (-suggested by Marila Belcher,
MARILAB@iadb.org-)
• An autumn of leaves (-suggested by RP4-)
• A babel of words (-suggested by Michael G. Pirrello, CHMM,
pirre001@acpub.duke.edu-)
• A balance of accountants (-suggested by Dan Hubbard,
hubbard@msmary.edu-)
• A bale of turtles
• A ballet of swans (-suggested by Diane L. Gottheiner,
diane.gottheiner@sap-ag.de-)
• A band of gorillas
• A band of jays (-MG3-)
• A band of men (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A bank of circuits (-submitted by Jason Harris,
• A bank of monitors (-submitted by Jason Harris,
• A barren of mules (-MG3-)
• A battery of tests (-submitted by David Henderson,
davidh@camelot.bradley.edu-)
• A beautification of spatulas (-suggested by jeff brown, brown-
0007@eastplains.net-)
• A bed of clams (-MG3-)
• A bed of oysters (-MG3-)
• A bed of snakes (-CCW2-)
• A belt of asteroids (-submitted by Jason Harris,
• A bend of willows (-suggested by RP4-)
• A bestiary of mythological creatures (-submitted by Jason Harris,
• A bevy of beauties (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A bevy of business angels (-according to the November
Newsletter of YABA-)
• A bevy of dowagers (-suggested by David Bannister,
db@antiquemaps.co.uk-)
• A bevy of quail
• A bevy of swans (-MG3-)
• A bevy of tanked sorority girls (possibly from Outland, -submitted
by Jason Harris, harrij1@weiss.che.utexas.edu-)
• A bill of particulars (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A billing of consultants (-suggested by Brian French,
• A billow of smokers (-suggested by RP4-)
• A blaze of pyromaniacs (-suggested by RP4-)
• A blessing of unicorns (-submitted by Marila Belcher,
MARILAB@iadb.org-)
• A bloat of hippopotami (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A blur of bicyclists (-suggested by RP4-)
• A blush of embarassments (-suggested by RP4-)
• A boast of soldiers (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A body of pathologists (-suggested by several contributers7-)
• A bond of British secret agents (-suggested by Rex Stocklin,
stocklin@earthlink.net-)
• A bongsuckling of white house staffers (-suggested by Daniel J.
Lash, danlash@tln.net-)
• A boo of surprises (-submitted by David Henderson,
• A book of mormons (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A bottle of source code (-suggested by Paul Gallagher,
paulpg@ozemail.com.au-)
• A bouquet of flowers (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A bouquet of pheasants (when flushed. -TR1-)
• A bout of estimations (-suggested by RP4-)
• A brace of grouse
• A brace of orthodontists (-suggested by R, K, & F,
infoman@gte.net)
• A bridge of admirals (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A brigade of soldiers (-submitted by Greg Hanka,
ghanka@bindview.com-)
• A broadside of (artillery) shells (on water. -submitted by ojo6-)
• A brood of hens (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A buffoonery of orangutans (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A building of rooks (-TR1-)
• A bunch of drongoes (-suggested by David Bannister,
• A bunch of grapes (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A bunch of janes (-suggested by David Bannister,
• A burden of yolks (-suggested by RP4-)
• A bury of conies (-MG3-)
• A business of ferrets (-submitted by Liz Moore,
lmoore@gate.mrc.gov.au-)
• A business of flies (-CCW2-)
• A buttload of proctologists (-suggested by Frc1000@aol.com-)
• A cackle of hyenas (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A calendar of saints (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A camp of transvestites (-suggested by Brett_Adkins,
hadkins@tmecl.co.za Suggestion-)
• A candle of tapirs (-suggested by RP4-)
• A cast of actors (thousands, etc., in a performance -thanks to
fisher, vonzelle@interport.net-)
• A cast of falcons (-TR1-)
• A cast of hawks
• A cavalcade of horsemen (-submitted by Jason Harris,
• A cavvy of extra cowboy mounts (-MG3-)
• A cete of badgers
• A chain of islands (-submitted by Jason Harris,
• A charlotte of webpages (-submitted by David Henderson,
• A charm of finches
• A chattering of choughs
• A chorus of angels (-submitted by Marila Belcher,
MARILAB@iadb.org-)
• A circle of Babbitts (-suggested by David Bannister,
• A circus of fighter (aircraft -submitted by David Bannister,
• A clank of tanks (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A class of students
• A clatter of tanks (-suggested by RP4-)
• A clench of sphincters (-suggested by Rowan Hamilton,
rhamilt@unixhub.slac.stanford.edu-)
• A click of (computer) mice (-submitted by David Henderson,
• A clipping of geldings (-suggested by RP4-)
• A cloud of bats (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A cloud of gnats
• A cloud of grasshoppers (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A cloud of plankton (-suggested by David Lucas,
David.Lucas@computershare.com.au-)
• A clowder of cats
• A clump of freshman (-suggested by Dave Mallick,
mallick@panther.middlebury.edu-)
• A cluster of alpha computers (-from Tips, Tidbits, and Technical
Topics-)
• A cluster of grasshoppers (-CCW2-)
• A clutch of auto mechanics (-suggested by R, K, & F,
infoman@gte.net-)
• A clutch of chicks
• A clutch of eggs (-CCW2-)
• A clutch of kleptomaniacs (-suggested by RP4-)
• A clutch of leering women (-suggested by David Bannister,
• A clutch of testicles (-suggested by Ron Carroll,
ronbo@gol.com-)
• A clutch of wrestlers (-suggested by Joan Garinger,
jgaringer@earthlink.net-)
• A clutter of cats
• A clutter of starlings (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A collective of nouns (-suggested by Bruce Crichton,
rainbow1@jax-inter.net-)
• A college of electors (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A colony of ants (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A colony of beavers (-CCW2-)
• A colony of gulls (-MG3-)
• A colony of microbiologists (-suggested by Brad Childs,
Brad.Childs@pfizer.com of Australia-)
• A colony of penguins (-TR1-)
• A colony of rabbits (-ojo6-)
• A company of parrots (-TR1-)
• A company of soldiers (-submitted by ghanka@bindview.com-)
• A compromise of senators (-suggested by Daniel J. Lash,
danlash@tln.net-)
• A conflagration of arsonists (-suggested by Chet Meek,
cmeek@city.grande-prairie.ab.ca-)
• A conflagration of pyromaniacs (-suggested by Chet Meek,
• A confusion of [traffic] cones (-suggested by Margaret Webb,
j&m@arachnid.freeserve.co.uk-)
• A confusion of meanderings (-suggested by RP4-)
• A congregation of people (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A congregation of plovers
• A congregation of worshipers
• A congress of baboons (-suggested by an entry in the Harvard On-
line Library-)
• A consort of Corgwyn ("Corgwyn - pronounced "corg'n," I think -
is the plural for Corgi, either Pembroke or Cardigan". -suggested by
Chris, Csv1026@aol.com-)
• A conspiracy of ravens (-submitted from Marila Belcher,
MARILAB@iadb.org-)
• A constable of ravens (-suggested by Adrian de Bear,
adebear@spirit.com.au-)
• A constellation of satellites (-suggested by Patrick Murphy,
pmurphy@space.honeywell.com-)
• A constellation of stars (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A constituency of voters (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A convention of tongues (-suggested by RP4-)
• A convocation of eagles (-MG3-)
• A cornucopia of slugs (-suggested by RP4-)
• A corps of cadets (-submitted by Jason Harris,
• A coven of witches (-submitted by Alan Montemayor,
amontemayor@swri.edu-)
• A cover of coots (-TR1,6-)
• A covey of grouse (-TR1-)
• A covey of partridges (-TR1-)
• A covey of pheasants (while on the ground. -CCW2-)
• A covey of ptarmigans (-TR1-)
• A covey of quail
• A cowardice of curs (-CCW2-)
• A crash of rhinoceroses (in contemporary use in Kenya Game
Reports. -submitted by ojo6-)
• A crash of software (-suggested by Greg Hanka,
• A creep of tortoises (-suggested by Susan Burton,
Sue.R.Burton@btinternet.com-)
• A crew of military barbers (-suggested by R, K, & F,
infoman@gte.net)
• A crush of shoppers (-suggested by RP4-)
• A crowd of onlookers
• A cruft of hackers (-according to The Hacker's Dictionary-)
• A crush of icebergs (-suggested by Michael,
camperik@mb.sympatico.ca-)
• A cry of hounds
• A cry of players (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A culture of bacteria (-submitted by Jason Harris,
• A cutch of vellum (-suggested by David Bannister,
• A cupful of starlets (-suggested by RP4-)
• A cutting of cynics (-suggested by David Bannister,
• A dawn of morning glories (-suggested by RP4-)
• A death-row of turkeys (in November. -submitted by ojo6-)
• A debauchery of Hedonists (-suggested by RP4-)
• A deck of sailors (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A deceit of lapwings
• A deficit of economists (-suggested by Ted Roseman,
troseman@magi.com-)
• A density of meatheads (-suggested by Chet Meek,
• A descent of woodpeckers
• A design of engineers (-suggested by Frank A. Geisel,
• A desperation of divorcees (-suggested by Toni Stern, via Gerald
• A desperation of voters (-suggested by David Bannister,
• A dilation of pupils (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A disputation of lawyers (-suggested by Lee Daniel Quinn,
gramps@iop.com-)
• A dissimulation of birds (-TR1-)
• A divergence of Canadians (-suggested by RP4-)
• A division of soldiers (-submitted by Greg Hanka,
• A dole of doves (-CCW2-)
• A donut of data (-from The Hacker's Dictionary-)
• A doom of dragons (-suggested by ghrowl@phunsite.net-)
• A dose of doctors (-suggested by RP4-)
• A down of hares
• A draught of fish (-MG3-)
• A dray of squirrels
• A drift of hogs (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A drift of icebergs (-suggested by Michael,
camperik@mb.sympatico.ca-)
• A drift of swine
• A dropping of pigeons (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A drove of cabbies (-suggested by R. & K. Mendell,
infoman@gte.net-)
• A drove of cattle
• A dule of doves (-MG3-)
• A drumming of grouse (derivation: their mating call, generated
with the wings. -submitted by ojo6-)
• A durante of toucans (-submitted by ojo6-)
• An ecstasy of Morgans (-from the Morgan Factory-)
• An embarrassment of parents (for use by teenagers, -suggested by
Jim Ahlberg, ahlberg@ns.rochelle.net-)
• An embarrassment of riches (-submitted by ojo6-)
• An encroachment of fence-builders (-suggested by Chet Meek,
• An ensemble of homosexuals (-suggested by David Rachlin,
Rachlin1@ix.netcom.com-)
• An equanimity of tranquilizers (-suggested by RP4-)
• An ergo of Cartesians (-suggested by RP4-)
• An erst of bees (-submitted by ojo, ojo@ojohaven.com,
from Atlantic Veterinary College-)
• An evensong of choirboys (-submitted by ojo6-)
• An exaltation of larks (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A fall of woodcocks (-TR1-)
• A falling of dominoes (-suggested by RP4-)
• A fascination of listeners (-suggested by Chet Meek,
• A fascination of on-lookers (-suggested by Chet Meek,
• A fesnyng of ferrets (see "fesnyng" background -submitted by
Greg Hanka, ghanka@bindview.com-)
• A fidget of altarboys (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A fidget of suspects (-suggested by Dennis Meyler,
dmeyler@hti.net-)
• A field of racehorses (-MG3,6-)
• A fistful of dollars (-submitted by Jason Harris,
• A flag of Americans (-suggested by RP4-)
• A flap of nuns (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A fleet of ships (-submitted by Marila Belcher,
MARILAB@iadb.org-)
• A flight of cormorants (-TR1-)
• A flight of doves (-TR1-)
• A flight of golf balls (-suggested by RP4-)
• A flight of goshawks (-TR1-)
• A flight of refugees (-suggested by RP4-)
• A flight of stairs (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A flight of swallows
• A flink of cows (twelve or more, submitted by Marila Belcher,
MARILAB@iadb.org-)
• A flitch of bacon (-suggested by David Bannister,
• A float of crocodiles (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A flock of sheep (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A flock of tourists (-suggested by an anonymous fan-)
• A flotilla of ships (-submitted by Jason Harris,
• A flourish of blossoms (-suggested by RP4-)
• A flunk of students (-suggested by Greg Hanka,
• A flush of wing commanders (aka "WCs". -submitted by ojo6-)
• A fluther of jellyfish (-submitted by ojo, ojo@ojohaven.com,
• A flock of white Christmas trees (-suggested by R, K, & F,
infoman@gte.net)
• A flood of plumbers (-suggested by R, K, & F, infoman@gte.net)
• A fold of chairs (-suggested by RP4-)
• A formality of penguins (-suggested by Susu413@aol.com-)
• A formation of geologists (-suggested by RP4-)
• A freeze of Northerners (-suggested by RP4-)
• A fright of ghosts (-suggested by RP4-)
• A gaggle of geese (wild or domesticated, notes -TR1, on water6-)
• A gaggle of pill poppers (-suggested by RP4-)
• A galaxy of stars (-submitted by Jason Harris,
• A galaxy of starlets (-submitted by Jason Harris,
• A gallop of Greyhounds (-suggested by Chris,
Csv1026@aol.com-)
• A gam of whales (-MG3-)
• A gambol of dancers (-suggested by RP4-)
• A gang of elk
• A gang of hoodlums (-submitted by Marila Belcher,
MARILAB@iadb.org-)
• A gatling of woodpeckers (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A geek of engineers (-suggested by Adam Pederson,
pederson@rtt.colorado.edu-)
• A giggle of girls (-suggested by Kyle Hasselbacher,
kyle@prarienet.org-)
• A glacier of freezers (-suggested by RP4-)
• A glitter of generals (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A glossolalia of pentacostals (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A glut of parrs (-suggested by David Bannister,
• A glut of pleasure (-suggested by David Bannister,
• A gossip of relatives (-suggested by David Rachlin,
• A government of episcopalians (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A greed of lawyers (-suggested by Mic Bergen,
mbergen@anacreon.com-)
• A grind of chores (-suggested by RP4-)
• A grip of hand tools (-suggested by Adam Pederson,
pederson@rtt.colorado.edu-)
• A grist of bees (-MG3-)
• A groan of puns (-suggested by RP4-)
• A gross of farts (-suggested by Peter Smith,
petergeo@pipeline.com-)
• A grove of trees (-submitted by Jason Harris,
• A grumble of Pugs (-suggested by Chris, Csv1026@aol.com-)
• A guilt of pleasures (-suggested by RP4-)
• A gush of sycophants (-suggested by Mal Walker,
walkerus@tpg.com.au-)
• A hailstorm of gunships (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A hamper of helpers (-suggested by RP4-)
• A hand of bananas (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A handful of palm readers (-suggested by R. & K. Mendell,
infoman@gte.net-)
• A harmony of beauties (-suggested by RP4-)
• A harmony of singers (suggested by Jim Ahlberg,
ahlberg@ns.rochelle.net-)
• A hassle of errands (-suggested by Greg Hanka,
• A hatchet of corporate downsizing proposals (-suggested by Greg
Hanka, ghanka@bindview.com-)
• A heap of front-end loaders (-suggested by R, K, & F,
infoman@gte.net)
• A heap of trash (-submitted by Jason Harris,
• A heard of blind people (-suggested by Andy Roberts,
aroberts@gsm.ucdavis.edu-)
• A herd of elephants
• A herd of horses (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A herd of pigs (-suggested by Lisa Donnelly,
lisa@omniserv.co.za-)
• A herd of wrens (-submitted by ojo, ojo@ojohaven.com,
• A hide of tigers (-suggested by Margaret Harley-)
• A hill of beans (-submitted by Jason Harris,
• A hiss of lisps (-suggested by RP4-)
• A hive of bees (derivation: habitat.)
• A horde of gnats
• A host of angels (-submitted from Marila Belcher,
MARILAB@iadb.org-)
• A host of sparrows
• A hover of hummingbirds (-suggested by RP4-)
• A hover of trout
• A huddle of hippos (-suggested by R, K, & F, infoman@gte.net)
• A huddle of lawyers (-submitted by Dennis Meyler,
dmeyler@hti.net-)
• A huddle of players (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A huff of people who write letters to the editor (-found in some
web page in Australia-)
• A hug of teddy bears (-submitted by Danie Cox-Tonkin,
saffire@busprod.com, quoting The Teddy Bear Encyclopedia by Pauline
Cockrill, ISBN 1-56458-302-3-)
• A hum of bees (-suggested by RP4-)
• A husk of hares (-MG3-)
• An immersion of baptists (-submitted by ojo6-)
• An imposition of in-laws (-suggested by RP4-)
• An incantation of warlocks (-suggested by Chet Meek,
• An incantation of witches (-suggested by Chet Meek,
• An incision of surgeons (-suggested by David Bannister,
• An indecision of managers (-suggested by Tim Hamilton,
hamilt@labyrinth.net.au-)
• A jackson of gloves (-suggested by Paul Gallagher,
• A jagger of tongues (-suggested by Paul Gallagher,
• A jam of tarts (-suggested by Mic Bergen,
• A jungle of Nazis (-suggested by RP4-)
• A Kervorkian of I.U. Med Students (-suggested by Daniel J. Lash,
danlash@tln.net-)
• A kettle of drums (-suggested by David Bannister,
• A kettle of hawks (riding a thermal -TR1-)
• A kindle of kittens (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A kneeling of parishioners (-suggested by RP4-)
• A knot of eels (-suggested by David Bannister,
• A knot of frogs (-suggested by Rex Stocklin,
stocklin@earthlink.net, quoting Richard Lederer's "The Play of Words"-)
• A knot of renters (-suggested by David Bannister,
• A knot of Scottish bankers (-suggested by David Bannister,
• A knot of shoelaces (-suggested by Amellia Kapa,
shakeney@xtra.co.nz-)
• A knot of toads (derivation: appearance.)
• A knuckle of gangsters (-suggested by Alexandra Irvin,
airvin@coast.com-)
• A labour of moles (-submitted by ojo, ojo@ojohaven.com,
• A leap of hares (-submitted by luigi@vercotti.demon.co.uk-)
• A leap of leopards (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A leash of foxes
• A leash of hares (-suggested by David Bannister,
• A lechery of priests (-suggested by Toni Stern, via Gerald 'Jerry'
Rounds, bloodflame@dellnet.com-)
• A lie of politicians (-submitted anonymously-)
• A litter of pigs
• A luck of dice (-suggested by Ginny Gross,
ginnyg@execpc.com-)
• A lump of toads (-suggested by Rowan Hamilton,
rhamilt@unixhub.slac.stanford.edu-)
• A machination of monkeys (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A magnum of hitmen (-suggested by Kyle Hasselbacher,
kyle@prarienet.org-)
• A mask of raccoons (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A mass of Catholics (-suggested by Dave Mallick,
mallick@panther.middlebury.edu-)
• A mass of priests (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A maul of bears (-suggested by Karl Broughton,
karl_broughton@mindlink.bc.ca-)
• A maze of canyons (-submitted by Jason Harris,
• A meaning of dictionaries (-suggested by Amellia Kapa,
• A medusa of knots (-suggested by RP4-)
• A meet of racehorses (-suggested by Karl Broughton,
karl_broughton@mindlink.bc.ca-)
• A meeting of quakers (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A melee of rioters (-suggested by RP4-)
• A membership of presbyterians (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A menage of mongrels (-suggested by Chris, Csv1026@aol.com-)
• A mess of grits (-submitted by Jason Harris,
• A mess of little boys (-suggested by Joan Garinger,
jgaringer@earthlink.net-)
• A mess of officers (-submitted by Marila Belcher,
MARILAB@iadb.org-)
• A mess of pottage (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A mint of candies (-suggested by RP4-)
• A minuscule of sub-atomic particles (-suggested by Chet Meek,
• A minyan of Jews (the quorum for a congregation, -submitted by
David Rachlin, Rachlin1@ix.netcom.com-)
• A mixture of pharmacists (-suggested by Chet Meek,
• A moan of lamentations (-suggested by RP4-)
• A mob of kangaroo (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A mob of Texans (-suggested by David Bannister,
• A mug of narcissists (-suggested by RP4-)
• A multiplication of loafers (-suggested by RP4-)
• A murder of crows
• A murmur of alliterations (-suggested by RP4-)
• A murmer of nuns (as of their sound. -suggested by proman,
proman@supanet.com-)
• A murmuration of starlings (-TR1-)
• A muscle of marines (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A muster of peacocks
• A muster of soldiers (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A muster of storks (-TR1-)
• A mustering of storks (-suggested by Rex Stocklin,
• A mute of hounds
• A nag of grandparents (-suggested by David Rachlin,
• A nest of bowls (-suggested by RP4-)
• A nest of machine guns (-suggested by Greg D.,
pamille2@students.wisc.edu-)
• A nest of mice (-CCW2-)
• A nest of rabbits (in their habitat -CCW2-)
• A nest of vipers (-CCW2-)
• A nest of wasps (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A network of computers (linked together -submitted by Bob
Brennert, bob@cknw.com-)
• A nobility of beasts (-suggested by RP4-)
• A number of mathematicians (-suggested by Ted Roseman,
troseman@magi.com-)
• A nye of pheasants (while on the ground. -CCW2-)
• An observance of hermits (-submitted by ojo6-)
• An obscurity of poets (-suggested by RP4-)
• An orchestra of crickets (-suggested by Marila Belcher,
MARILAB@iadb.org-)
• An orchestra of musicians
• An order of waiters (-suggested by Karl Schonborn,
kschonbo@infodoor.co.za-)
• An ostentation of peacocks (-TR1-)
• A pace of asses (-MG3-)
• A pack of hounds (-MG3-)
• A pack of suitcases (-suggested by R, K, & F, infoman@gte.net)
• A pack of wolves (-MG3-)
• A pad of (sheets of) paper (-submitted by Jason Harris,
• A paddling of ducks (while swimming. -CCW2-)
• A pail of wasps (-suggested by RP4-)
• A pair of horses
• A palm of wankers (-suggested by Adrian de Bear,
• A pander of toadies (-suggested by RP4-)
• A pantheon of gods (-submitted by Jason Harris,
• A parade of penguins (-submitted by Susu413@aol.com-)
• A parliament of owls
• A parliament of rooks (-submitted by Janice,
jjc147@psuvm.psu.edu-)
• A party of jays (-TR1-)
• A passel of brats (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A patch of flowers (-submitted by Jason Harris,
• A pathos of mourners (-suggested by RP4-)
• A patter of footsteps (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A peal of bells (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A peep of chickens (-TR1-)
• A peep-show of CDs (-suggested by Paul Gallagher,
• A pencil of lines (proper contemporary group term in
mathematics. -submitted by ojo6-)
• A pension of condominiums (-suggested by Paul Gallagher,
• A phalanx of umbrellas (-suggested by RP4-)
• A piddle of puppies (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A pie-full of apples (-suggested by an anonymous fan-)
• A pile of dung (-submitted by Jason Harris,
• A pinhead of angels (-suggested by RP4-)
• A pink of liberals (-suggested by RP4-)
• A piteousness of doves (-CCW2-)
• A pithy of truths (-suggested by RP4-)
• A pitying of turtledoves (-TR1-)
• A plague of locusts (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A plane of geometrists (-suggested by RP4-)
• A platoon of soldiers (-submitted by Greg Hanka,
• A plump of waterfowl (-submitted by Dave M. Carden,
davidc@pro-net.co.uk-)
• A plump of wildfowl (-suggested by Rex Stocklin,
• A plunder of goons (-suggested by Chet Meek,
• A pod of seals
• A pod of whales (-CCW2-)
• A poke of fencers (-suggested by Mic Bergen,
• A pomposity of professors (from Boston Common -submitted by
Matthew M. Burke, burkemat@lyco.lycoming.edu-)
• A ponder of philosophers (-suggested by Greg Hanka,
• A pontificality of prelates (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A posse of cock-turkeys (-suggested by David Bannister,
• A posse of posers (-suggested by R, K, & F, infoman@gte.net)
• A prattle of parrots (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A pretension of intellects (-suggested by Toni Stern, via Gerald
• A prevarication of consultants (-suggested by James Macrae,
james.macrae@compel.co.uk, from a colleague,
andyp@sifutures.ltd.uk-)
• A prey of nuns (-suggested by Peter Smith,
petergeo@pipeline.com-)
• A prickle of hedgehogs (-submitted by Duane Godwin,
aztech1@cis.co.za-)
• A prickle of porcupines (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A pride of lions
• A pride of stage mothers (-suggested by R, K, & F,
infoman@gte.net-)
• A propriety of nouns (-suggested by RP4-)
• A pryde of griffins (-suggested by Matthew Buenaflor,
mbuenaflor@comcastwork.net-)
• A pull of silk-screens (-suggested by RP4-)
• A pumphouse of egos (-suggested by RP4-)
• A quake of cowards (-suggested by Brian French,
• A quake of seismologists (-suggested by RP4-)
• A quarrel of lawyers (suggested by Jim Ahlberg,
• A quaver of arias (-suggested by RP4-)
• A quiz of teachers (-suggested by Jim Ahlberg,
• A rabble of rats (-suggested by Ken Gower,
ken.gower@greenvale.co.uk-)
• A rack of gears (-suggested by RP4-)
• A radiance of cardinals (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A raft of canvass-back ducks (-submitted by David Bannister,
• A raft of ducks (while idle in water. -CCW2-)
• A raft of widgeon (-submitted by David Bannister,
• A rafter of turkeys (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A rain of cats and dogs (-suggested by Phillip Blackerby,
phillip@perfstrat.com-)
• A ramuda of horses (in a large group, as a herd) (-suggested by
Phillip Blackerby, phillip@perfstrat.com-)
• A Rand of Objectivists (-suggested by Greg Hanka,
• A range of mountains (-submitted by Jason Harris,
• A ream of bureaucrats (-suggested by Joseph Nied,
jn3@ois.lemuria.com-)
• A reflection of narcissists (-suggested by Paul Healy,
phealy@mis.gla.ac.uk-)
• A regatta of swans (on water. -suggested by Mal Walker,
walkerus@tpg.com.au-)
• A release of anglers (-suggested by RP4-)
• A remuda of extra cowboy mounts (-MG3-)
• A rhyme of poets (suggested by Jim Ahlberg,
• A richness of martens (-MG3-)
• A ring of keys (linked physically, -submitted by Jason Harris,
• A rope of pearls (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A round of circumnavigations (-suggested by RP4-)
• A round of drinks (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A route of wolves (-submitted by Rex Stocklin,
• A rumble of artillery (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A rumpus of baboons (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A run of cowards (-suggested by Rex Stocklin,
• A run of poultry (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A rush of overnight couriers (-suggested by R, K, & F,
infoman@gte.net)
• A rush of pochard (-submitted by ojo, ojo@ojohaven.com,
• A salon of Poodles (-suggested by Chris, Csv1026@aol.com-)
• A salt substrate of potato chips (-from The Hacker's Dictionary-)
• A salt substrate of pretzels (-from The Hacker's Dictionary-)
• A salt substrate of saltines (-from The Hacker's Dictionary-)
• A salvo of [artillery] shells (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A scale of ichthyologists (-suggested by RP4-)
• A scandal of shoes (-suggested by redshirt@altavista.net-)
• A school of fish (derivation: error. Was originally "shoal".)
• A sedge of cranes
• A sea of bishops (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A set of mathematicians (-suggested by Ted Roseman,
troseman@magi.com-)
• A sheaf of wheat (stalks of grain tied together. -submitted by
6
ojo -)
• A shitload of troubles (-submitted by Jason Harris,
• A shoal of bass
• A shoal[e] of goslings (-suggested by David Bannister,
• A shoal of shad (-submitted by David Bannister,
• A shock of corn (pile of stalks. -submitted by ojo6-)
• A shortage of dwarves (-from the Globe and Mail Newspaper?,
submitted anonymously-)
• A shrewdness of apes
• A siege of herons
• A singular of boars (-MG3-)
• A skein of geese (in flight, notes -TR1,6-)
• A skulk of foxes (derivation: behavior.)
• A slate of candidates (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A slew of homework (-submitted by Jason Harris,
• A slice of circumcisions (-suggested by RP4-)
• A slither of gossip columnists (-suggested by RP4-)
• A slither of snakes (-suggested by David Rachlin,
• A sloth of bears (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A smack of jellyfish (-submitted by ojo, ojo@ojohaven.com,
• A smashing of luddites (-suggested by RP4-)
• A smuth of jellyfish (-submitted by ojo, ojo@ojohaven.com,
• A snap of photographers (-suggested by David Bannister,
• A sneak of weasels (derivation: behavior. -Laura John,
ljohn@salsa.walldata.com-)
• A Sodom of shepherds (-suggested by RP4-)
• A souffle of clouds (derivation: appearance -suggested by Ron
Hawker, freshflowers@igrin.co.nz-)
• A sord of mallards (-TR1-)
• A sounder of swine (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A Sousa of marching bands (suggested by Jim Ahlberg,
• A splash of puddles (-suggested by Amellia Kapa,
• A spread of nymphomaniacs (-suggested by [someone at]
Evergreen School of English, everg@baobab.or.jp-)
• A sprig of vegetarians (-suggested by RP4-)
• A spring of seals
• A spring of teal (-TR1-)
• A sproutness of mushrooms (-suggested by David Rachlin,
• A squad of soldiers (-submitted by Marila Belcher,
MARILAB@iadb.org-)
• A squash of sermons (-suggested by David Bannister,
• A squeal of nieces (-suggested by Katherine Spivey,
SpiveyK@theiacp.org-)
• A squint of proofreaders (-suggested by Katherine Spivey,
• A stable of prostitutes (-submitted by Jason Harris,
• A staff of employees (-submitted by Philip F. Karpel, Jr.,
pkarpel@key-logic.com-)
• A stand of flamingo (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A stand of trees (-submitted by Jason Harris,
• A stash of weed (when hidden, -submitted by Jason Harris,
• A steam of turds (-suggested by Adrian de Bear,
• A stench of skunks (-submitted by David Henderson,
• A stock of portfolio managers (-suggested by R, K, & F,
infoman@gte.net)
• A storm of paratroops (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A strangle of bad laws (-suggested by Ron Hawker,
freshflowers@xtra.co.nz-)
• A streak of tigers (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A stretch of giraffes (-suggested by Katherine Spivey,
• A string of ponies (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A stripe of zebras (-suggested by David Rachlin,
• A stud of mares
• A studk of jellyfish (-submitted by ojo, ojo@ojohaven.com,
• A subtlety of designers (-suggested by Frank A. Geisel,
• A sulk of teenagers (-suggested by Chet Meek,
• A superfluity of nuns (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A superfluity of priests (-suggested by David Bannister,
• A superfluity of similes (-suggested by David Bannister,
• A swarm of bees (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A swarm of cockroaches (-suggested by David Bannister,
• A swarm of dirty ragged plebeians (-suggested by David
Bannister, db@antiquemaps.co.uk-)
• A swarm of haries (-suggested by David Bannister,
• A swarm of literary drones (-suggested by David Bannister,
• A swarm of suitors (-suggested by David Bannister,
• A swarm of sycophants (-suggested by David Bannister,
• A sweetness of sopranos (suggested by Jim Ahlberg,
• A swelter of blankets (-suggested by Katherine Spivey,
• A tangle of tricksters (according to Ms. Carol Ramsey and the
classes of English 160 W97006 and English 160 W97008 at Camosun
College in Victoria, BC. Canada -submitted by Prof. Peter Montgomery,
Montgomery@camosun.bc.ca-)
• A team of atheletes (-submitted by Jason Harris,
• A team of ducks (while flying. (-CCW2-)
• A team of horses
• A team of oxen (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A tedium of golfers (-suggested by David Bannister,
• A terror of terriers ("as any cat knows!" -suggested by Chris,
Csv1026@aol.com-)
• A ticktock of clocks (-submitted by David Henderson,
• A tidings of magpies (-TR1-)
• A tilt of windmills (-suggested by RP4-)
• A tok of capercailzies (i.e., Old World grouse -MG3-)
• A tongue lashing of interpreters (-suggested by Marila Belcher,
MARILAB@iadb.org-)
• A totter of giraffes (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A tough of lesbians (-suggested by David Rachlin,
• A treachery of spies (-suggested by Chet Meek,
• A tribe of goats (-MG3-)
• A tribe of monkeys (-MG3-)
• A tribe of natives (-submitted by Marila Belcher,
MARILAB@iadb.org-)
• A trip of dotterel (-TR1-)
• A trip of goats
• A troop of kangaroo (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A troop of monkeys (-suggested by Rex Stocklin,
• A troup of performers (-submitted by Jason Harris,
• A tumult of tubas (suggested by Jim Ahlberg,
• A tuz of hair (-suggested by David Bannister,
• A tyranny of dictators (-suggested by Chet Meek,
• A ubiquity of sparrows (-submitted by ojo6-)
• An undulation of hills (-suggested by RP4-)
• An unkindness of ravens (-submitted by Eve Costello-)
• A vagary of impediments (-suggested by Chet Meek,
• A vane of directions (-suggested by RP4-)
• A vein of goldfinch (-suggested by RP4-)
• A vigor of hybrids (-suggested by RP4-)
• A vision of optometrists (-suggested by Amellia Kapa,
• A visit of jehovah's witnesses (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A volery of birds (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A waddle of Basset Hounds (-suggested by Chris,
Csv1026@aol.com-)
• A wailing of Weight Watchers (-suggested by Sue Henczel,
zsmh02@gascor.vic.gov.au, from Anne M. Murphy-)
• A wake of vultures (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A walk of snipe (-MG3-)
• A wash of emotions (-suggested by Rex Stocklin,
• A watch of nightingales
• A wave of surfers (-suggested by Brian French,
• A wealth of information
• A wedge of geese (flying in a "V", -TR1-)
• A wedge of swans (flying in a "V", -TR1-)
• A whale of surfers (-suggested by RP4-)
• A whistle of modems (-suggested by Jerry Pournelle in a BYTE
article-)
• A whored of prostitutes (-suggested by Phillip Blackerby,
phillip@perfstrat.com-)
• A wiggle of Elvis impersonators (-suggested by RP4-)
• A wing of (fighter) aircraft (-submitted by Jason Harris,
• A wisdom of grandparents (-suggested by Jim Ahlberg,
• A wisdom of owls (-thanks to Diane L. Gottheiner,
diane.gottheiner@sap-ag.de-)
• A wisp of snipe
• A wolfpack of submarines (-submitted by ojo6-)
• A wriggle of worms (-suggested by Norman Peters,
npeters@mail.act.apana.org.au-)
• A wonder of stars (-suggested by RP4-)
• A yoke of pilots (-suggested by R. & K. Mendell,
infoman@gte.net-)
• A yoke of oxen
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1
TR denotes Terry Ross, author of Group Names for Birds
2
CCW denotes Crane C. Walden, cranew@foothill.net
3
MG denotes Matt Goers, matt.j.goers@medtronic.com, quoting from The
Trivia Encyclopedia and Webster's New Dictionary and Thesaurus, Concise
edition (see the bibliography)
4
RP denotes Richard Paterak, rpaterak@hurontario.net
5
According to Jeansp@aol.com:
The suggestion about an anthology of prostitutes is part of a joke I heard years
ago:
A group of specialists in collective nouns was in bar an observed such a group
of professionals and came up with the following:
A jam of tarts
A flourish of strumpets
An anthology of English pros
6
Confirmed by ojo@ojohaven.com in An Exaltation of Larks: The Ultimate
Edition, by James Lipton, published by Penguin USA, 1993. ISBN 0-140-
17096-0.
7
Submitted by Jeannette van Arenthals (info@alfa-beta.nl), Robert S Owen
(Owen.Robert.S@edumail.vic.gov.au), and Richard Wakem
(richard.wakem.@libertysurf.co.uk), the last of whom gives the following
reference:
In the English TV-series 'Inspector Morse', the protagonist asks this colleagues
at the scene of the crime if there is a collective noun for pathologists. They
decide on 'a body of pathologists'
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History of Collective Types of Nouns

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Dictionary Home » Library » English Grammar Rules & Usage » Nouns » Collective

Worksheets & Exercises - Tests, Lessons, Animations, Videos.

History of Collective Types of

Collective, Countable, and Mass

• Countable nouns are nouns that can be counted, modified by a number or

Common Collective Nouns

Using Nouns in the Collective Class

Fun with Nouns

For more fun uses of collectives,

Teacher and Student Resources

• Formula Fusion Collective Animal Nouns Game

8. Share with Friends

© 1996-2011 LoveToKnow, Corp. All Rights Reserved. Audio

• An aarmory of aardvarks (-submitted by ojo6-)

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