List of English terms of venery, by animal

A skein of geese

This is a list of English terms of venery (venery being an archaic word for hunting), comprising terms from a tradition that arose in the Late Middle Ages, at least partly from the Book of Saint Albans of 1486. Although originally considered whimsical and humorous, many of these terms have become part of the modern-day lexicon. The list also includes more common collective terms (such as herd and flock) for some animals.

Contents 

Standard terms for particular groups are listed first in each group and shown in bold.

This is an incomplete list that may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries.
Subject Collective noun Notes Sources
A
alligators congregation [1]
antelopes herd [2][3]
ants army [1]
colony [1][2]
nest [1]
swarm [1]
apes shrewdness [3][4][5]
troop [1]
asses herd [1]
drove driven in a group [1]
pace or passe [1][2]
B
baboons troop [1][5]
badgers cete [1][2][5][6]
bats colony [2]
bears sleuth or sloth [1][2][5]
beavers colony [1]
family [1]
bees swarm [5]
drift [5]
erst [5]
grist [2]
birdsflock [5]
dissimulation fanciful [4]
flight [5]
pod [5]
bitterns sedge or sege [2][4][7]
boars (wild boars) sounder 12 or more [6]
buffalo herd [2][5]
bullfinches bellowing [5]
bullocks drove driven in a group [5]
butterflies flutter [8]
swarm [9]
buzzards wake [1][2]
C
camels caravan [1]
flock [1]
train [1]
capercaillie tok [10][11]
capons mews [10]
caribou herd [10]
cats clowder [1][2][10]
cluster or clutter [1][10]
glaring [1][10]
pounce [1][2]
destruction wild cats (feral cats) [5][12]
caterpillars army [1]
cattle herd [1][2]
drove [1][2]
chickens brood [1][5]
clutch [5]
peep [1][5]
choughs chattering or clattering [4][5][6][13][14]
cockroaches intrusion [1]
colts rag [2][5][6]
rake [5]
cormorants gulp [1][2]
coots covert [4][5]
coyotes pack [10]
cranes herd [4][5]
sedge or sege [2][7][10]
crocodiles bask [1][2][10]
float [1]
crows murder [1][2][5][6]
curlews herd [4][5][6]
D
deer herd [15]
bunch [15]
mob [15]
parcel [16]
rangale [15]
dogs pack [15]
dogfish troop [15]
dolphins pod [17][18]
school [15]
team [15]
dotterel trip [2][5][15][19]
doves dole or dule fanciful [2][4][5][15]
flight [1][5][15]
piteousness fanciful [5][15]
ducks flock [1]
badling [2]
bunch on water [5][15]
paddling on water [1][2][5][15]
plump [20][21]
raft on water [1][2][5][15]
skein in flight [15]
sord or sore [15]
string in flight [15]
team in flight [2][15]
waddling [15]
dunlins fling [5]
E
eaglesconvocation [1][2]
eels bed [1]
swarm [1]
elephants herd [1][2]
memory [1]
elk gang [1][5][6]
herd [1][5]
emus mob [1]
F
ferrets business corruption over time of 'busyness' [1][2][6]
busyness [4]
besyness
fesynes
fesnyng
feamyng 		ghost words arising from successive misspellings of "busyness" [22]
finches charm or chirm [1][2][5]
fish school [1][2]
shoal [1][2]
flamingoes stand [1][2]
flies business [1][2]
cloud [1]
swarm [1]
foxes leash [1][2]
skulk [1][2]
frogs army [1][2]
G
geese flock on land [2][23]
gaggle on land [1][2][23]
plump flying close [23]
skein in flight [1][2][23]
team in flight [23]
wedgein flight [23]
giraffes herd [23]
corps [23]
tower [2][23]
gnats cloud [1][2][5][23]
horde [1][2][23]
rabble [23]
swarm [1][23]
goats flock [23]
herd [23]
tribe [23]
trip or trippe [23]
goldfinches charm [23]
goosanders dopping [23]
gorillas band [1][2][23]
troop [1]
whoop [23]
goshawks flight [4][23]
grasshoppers cloud [2][23]
swarm [23]
grouse covey [5][23]
pack [5][23]
guineafowl rasp [24]
H
hares down [25]
drove [25]
flick [25]
husk [25]
harts herd [25]
hawks boil two or more spiralling in flight [1][2]
cast [1][2][4][5]
kettle flying in large numbers [1][2]
lease [4]
hedgehogs array [25]
herons sedge or sege [1][2][4][6][7][25]
siege [1][2][5][25]
hippopotamuses bloat [1][2][25]
hogs parcel See also boars, pigs, swine [26][27]
hornets bike [25]
nest [2]
swarm [25]
horses team in harness [1][2][25]
band [1]
haras or harrase [2][25]
herd [1][25]
stable [1][25]
string [1][2][25]
stud [2][25]
hounds pack [25]
cry [25]
hunt [25]
meet [25]
mute [25]
stable [25]
hyenas cackle [1][2]
I
ibex herd [28]
ibises colony [28]
iguanas mess [28]
insects flight [28]
horde [28]
plague [28]
rabble [28]
swarm [28]
J
jackdaws clattering [29]
train [29][30]
jays band [1]
party [1][2]
scold [1][2]
jellyfish fluther [5]
smack [1][2][5]
K
kangaroos mob [1]
troop [1][2]
kittens kindle [5]
L
lapwings deceit or desert [2][4][5][6][31]
larks bevy [5]
exaltation [4][5][6]
leopards leap or lepe [1][2][5]
lions pride [1][2][5]
sawt [5]
locusts plague [2]
M
mackerel shoal [32]
magpies charm [2]
congregation [32]
gulp [2]
murder [2]
tiding [2][4][5][32]
tittering [32]
mallards flush [32]
puddling [32]
sord [2][5][32]
suit or sute [5][32]
mares stud [5][6][32]
martens richesse or richness [2][5][32]
mice nest [1][32]
mischief [33]
trip [32]
minnows shoal [32]
moles company [32]
labor or labour [1][2][5][32]
monkeys barrel [1][2]
cartload [32]
tribe [32]
troop [2][5][32]
wilderness [34]
moorhens plump [32]
moose herd [1][32]
mosquitoes scourge [32]
mudhens fleet [32]
mules barren [1][2][5][6][32]
pack [2][32]
rake [32]
span [1][2][32]
N
nightingales watch [4][5]
O
owls parliament [1][2][6]
oxen drove [1]
team [1][2]
yoke [1][2]
oysters bed [1][2]
P
parrots company [1][2]
pandemonium [1]
partridges covey [2][5]
peacocks muster [2][5][6]
ostentation [1][2]
pride [1]
pelicans pod [1]
pheasants bouquet [1][2]
head [5]
nest [2]
nide [2]
nye [1][2][5][6]
pigs drift See also boars, hogs, swine [1][2]
drove [1][2]
pigeons kit flying together [5]
plovers congregation [4][5]
stand [5]
wing [5]
Q
quail bevy [1][2][4][5]
covey [1][2]
drift [5]
R
raccoonsgaze [1]
ravens unkindness [4][5]
rhinoceroses crash [1][2][5]
rooks building [4][5]
parliament [5][6]
S
salmon bind [35]
draught [35]
run [35]
sandpipers fling [35]
seals herd [35]
pod [35]
rookery [35]
sea urchins herd [36][37]
sheep flock [1][2][35]
down [35]
drift when driven in a group [35]
drove when driven in a group [2][35]
herd [2][35]
hurtle [1][35]
meinie [35]
mob <ref name="askoxford-s"/
pack [1]
parcel [35]
trip [35]
sheldrake dopping [35][38]
snails escargatoire [35]
rout [35]
walk [35]
snakes bed [1]
den [1]
knot [1]
nest [2]
pit [1]
snipes walk [5][6][35]
whisp or wisp [5][35]
sparrows host [1][2][4][5][35]
meinie [35]
tribe [35]
spiderscluster or clutter [1][35]
squirrels colony [35]
dray [1][2]
scurry [1][2]
starlings chattering [1][13][35]
clattering [35]
cloud [35]
congregation [35]
murmuration [1][4][5][6][35]
stoats pack [35]
trip [35]
storks flight [35]
mustering [1][2][35]
phalanx when migrating [35]
swallows flight [1][2][35]
gulp [35]
swans bank on the ground [1][35]
bevy [1][2][35]
drift [35]
eyrar [35]
flight [1]
game [5][35]
herd [1][35]
lamentation fanciful [35]
sownder [35]
team [35]
wedge in flight [1][2][5][35]
whiting [35]
swifts flock [35]
scream [39]
swine doylt See also boars, hogs, pigs [35]
drift [6][35]
trip [35]
T
teal spring [2][4][5]
tigers ambush [1]
streak [1][2]
toads knot [1][2]
nest [1]
trout hover [1][2]
turkeys gang [2]
rafter [1][2]
turtles bale [1][2]
dole [1]
nest [2]
turtle doves dole or dule [4]
pitying [2]
U
V
vipers nest [2]
W
walruses herd [2]
pod [2]
waterfowl bunch [5]
knob [5]
raft [5]
weasels colony [1]
pack [1]
whales gam [1][2]
herd [2]
mob [1]
pod [1][2]
wigeons company [2][5]
trip [5]
wildfowl bunch [5]
knob fewer than 30 [5]
plump [5]
trip [5]
wolves pack [1][2]
rout or route when in movement [1][2]
wombats wisdom [40]
woodcocks fall [2][4][5]
woodpeckers descent [1][2][5]
wrens herd [4][5]
X
Y
Z
zebras herd [1][41]
cohort [41]
dazzle [42]
zeal [1][41]
Contents 

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 1.24 1.25 1.26 1.27 1.28 1.29 1.30 1.31 1.32 1.33 1.34 1.35 1.36 1.37 1.38 1.39 1.40 1.41 1.42 1.43 1.44 1.45 1.46 1.47 1.48 1.49 1.50 1.51 1.52 1.53 1.54 1.55 1.56 1.57 1.58 1.59 1.60 1.61 1.62 1.63 1.64 1.65 1.66 1.67 1.68 1.69 1.70 1.71 1.72 1.73 1.74 1.75 1.76 1.77 1.78 1.79 1.80 1.81 1.82 1.83 1.84 1.85 1.86 1.87 1.88 1.89 1.90 1.91 1.92 1.93 1.94 1.95 1.96 1.97 1.98 1.99 1.100 1.101 1.102 1.103 1.104 1.105 1.106 1.107 1.108 1.109 1.110 1.111 1.112 1.113 1.114 1.115 1.116 1.117 1.118 1.119 1.120 1.121 1.122 1.123 1.124 1.125 1.126 1.127 1.128 1.129 1.130 1.131 1.132 1.133 1.134 1.135 1.136 1.137 1.138 1.139 1.140 1.141 1.142 1.143 "San Diego Zoo". archived copy of Animal group names. Zoological Society of San Diego. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 2.21 2.22 2.23 2.24 2.25 2.26 2.27 2.28 2.29 2.30 2.31 2.32 2.33 2.34 2.35 2.36 2.37 2.38 2.39 2.40 2.41 2.42 2.43 2.44 2.45 2.46 2.47 2.48 2.49 2.50 2.51 2.52 2.53 2.54 2.55 2.56 2.57 2.58 2.59 2.60 2.61 2.62 2.63 2.64 2.65 2.66 2.67 2.68 2.69 2.70 2.71 2.72 2.73 2.74 2.75 2.76 2.77 2.78 2.79 2.80 2.81 2.82 2.83 2.84 2.85 2.86 2.87 2.88 2.89 2.90 2.91 2.92 2.93 2.94 2.95 2.96 2.97 2.98 2.99 2.100 2.101 2.102 2.103 2.104 2.105 2.106 2.107 2.108 2.109 2.110 2.111 2.112 2.113 2.114 2.115 2.116 2.117 2.118 2.119 2.120 2.121 2.122 2.123 "Common Questions: What Do You Call a Group of...?". archived copy of Animal Congregations, or What Do You Call a Group of.....?. U.S. Geological Survey Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center. Retrieved 2015-04-13.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Pepper, Elizabeth (2003). Witches all (Revised, Illustrated ed.). Tiverton, Rhode Island: Witches' Almanac Limited. p. 41. ISBN 9781881098263.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 4.19 4.20 4.21 4.22 4.23 4.24 4.25 4.26 Berners, Dame Juliana (1881) [1486]. The Boke of Saint Albans. Introduction by William Blades. London: Elliot Stock. Retrieved 2011-05-27.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 5.9 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 5.15 5.16 5.17 5.18 5.19 5.20 5.21 5.22 5.23 5.24 5.25 5.26 5.27 5.28 5.29 5.30 5.31 5.32 5.33 5.34 5.35 5.36 5.37 5.38 5.39 5.40 5.41 5.42 5.43 5.44 5.45 5.46 5.47 5.48 5.49 5.50 5.51 5.52 5.53 5.54 5.55 5.56 5.57 5.58 5.59 5.60 5.61 5.62 5.63 5.64 5.65 5.66 5.67 5.68 5.69 5.70 5.71 5.72 5.73 5.74 5.75 5.76 5.77 5.78 5.79 5.80 5.81 5.82 5.83 5.84 5.85 5.86 5.87 5.88 5.89 5.90 "What do you call a group of ...?". Oxford Dictionaries. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8 6.9 6.10 6.11 6.12 6.13 6.14 6.15 6.16 6.17 6.18 6.19 Schott, Ben (2002). Schott's Original Miscellany. London: Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 11. ISBN 0-7475-6320-9.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Definition of Sege by the Free Online Dictionary
  8. ↑ http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/bugs/monarch-butterfly/
  9. ↑ http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 10.7 10.8 "AskOxford: C". Collective Terms for Groups of Animals. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. Retrieved 2009-02-16.
  11. ↑ British Trust for Ornithology - BirdFacts - Capercaillie
  12. ↑ Definition of Destruction by the Free Online Dictionary
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Definition of Chattering by the Free Online Dictionary
  14. ↑ Definition of Clattering by the Free Online Dictionary
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 15.6 15.7 15.8 15.9 15.10 15.11 15.12 15.13 15.14 15.15 15.16 15.17 15.18 15.19 "AskOxford: D". archived copy of Collective Terms for Groups of Animals. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. Retrieved 2011-05-27.
  16. ↑ Full text of "Days of deer-stalking in the Scottish Highlands; including an account of the nature and habits of the red deer, a description of the Scottish forests, and histor...
  17. ↑ "Battle to save NY pod of dolphins". BBC News. 17 January 2007. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  18. ↑ A Pod of Dolphins - NASA Mars Collection
  19. ↑ British Trust for Ornithology - BirdFacts - Dotterel
  20. ↑ http://dictionary.infoplease.com/plump
  21. ↑ http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plump%5B4%5D Plump[4] - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary]
  22. ↑ Borgmann, Dmitri A. (1967). Beyond Language: Adventures in Word and Thought. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons. pp. 79–80, 146, 251–254. OCLC 655067975.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 23.4 23.5 23.6 23.7 23.8 23.9 23.10 23.11 23.12 23.13 23.14 23.15 23.16 23.17 23.18 23.19 23.20 23.21 23.22 23.23 23.24 23.25 "AskOxford: G". archived copy of Collective Terms for Groups of Animals. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
  24. ↑ Lynn-Allen, Lieut.-Colonel B. G. (1951). Shot-gun and Sunlight - The Game Birds of East Africa. London: Batchworth Press.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 25.4 25.5 25.6 25.7 25.8 25.9 25.10 25.11 25.12 25.13 25.14 25.15 25.16 25.17 25.18 25.19 25.20 25.21 25.22 "AskOxford: H". archived copy of Collective Terms for Groups of Animals. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
  26. ↑ Avery Craven (1957). The coming of the Civil War. University of Chicago Press. p. 30. ISBN 0-226-11894-0.
  27. ↑ Schoultz, Lars (1998). Beneath the United States. Harvard University Press. p. 1. ISBN 0-674-92276-X. They are lazy, dirty, nasty, and in short I can compare them to nothing but a parcel of hogs. (John Quincy Adams, age 12)
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 28.4 28.5 28.6 28.7 "AskOxford: I". archived copy of Collective Terms for Groups of Animals. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. Retrieved 2011-05-27.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 Skull, Amanda. "Bird Watch - Jackdaw" (PDF). Bird Watch. British Trust for Ornithology. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
  30. ↑ White, Gilbert (1833). The Natural History of Selborne. London, United Kingdom: N. Hailes. p. 163.
  31. ↑ British Trust for Ornithology - BirdFacts - Lapwing
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 32.3 32.4 32.5 32.6 32.7 32.8 32.9 32.10 32.11 32.12 32.13 32.14 32.15 32.16 32.17 32.18 32.19 32.20 32.21 32.22 32.23 32.24 32.25 "AskOxford: M". archived copy of Collective Terms for Groups of Animals. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. Retrieved 2011-09-23.
  33. ↑ http://www.bluecross.org.uk/2000-109789/a-mischief-of-mice-found-starved-in-abandoned-pet-shop-need-new-homes.html
  34. ↑ Shakespeare, Merchant of Venice, Act III, Scene i
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 35.2 35.3 35.4 35.5 35.6 35.7 35.8 35.9 35.10 35.11 35.12 35.13 35.14 35.15 35.16 35.17 35.18 35.19 35.20 35.21 35.22 35.23 35.24 35.25 35.26 35.27 35.28 35.29 35.30 35.31 35.32 35.33 35.34 35.35 35.36 35.37 35.38 35.39 35.40 35.41 35.42 35.43 35.44 35.45 35.46 35.47 35.48 35.49 35.50 35.51 35.52 35.53 "AskOxford: S". archived copy of Collective Terms for Groups of Animals. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
  36. ↑ ""Balancing Act: Otters, Urchins and Kelp"". Retrieved 2014-06-25.
  37. ↑ "Blue Planet: The Deep".
  38. ↑ Definition of Dopping by the Free Online Dictionary
  39. ↑ British Trust for Ornithology - BirdFacts - Swift
  40. ↑ "Animal Encounters - Nat Geo Wild".
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 41.2 "AskOxford: Z". Retrieved 2010-06-22.
  42. ↑ van der Post, Laurens (1958). The Lost World of the Kalahari. Harcourt Brace & Company. p. 196.