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I suspect these collective nouns as they are called were invented, or expanded, by the victorians, it's the kind of thing they did (if they were sufficiently we
by throwaway_pdp09 6y ago
I suspect these collective nouns as they are called were invented, or expanded, by the victorians, it's the kind of thing they did (if they were sufficiently wealthy).
A parliament of owls, a murder of crows etc. I can imagine it was a way of excluding people without education.
My speculation anyway. Whole things just seems silly to me.
- dmckeon 6y agoI believe they may have grown out of “terms of venery” or words specific to hunting - an activity often divided into class-specific groupings.
- throwaway_pdp09 6y agoI do believe you hit the nail on the head. For others who are unaware of the term https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collective_noun#Terms_of_venery https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collective_noun#Terms_of_vener... - thanks