'Cauldron of bats' and other great collective nouns
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Long term readers of this blog will know that I love playful words and the origin of language.
Collective nouns of animals are one of the most joyful discoveries I’ve made because they’re usually anthropomorphic or draw from the movement, sound or appearance of the animal in question.
This post was inspired by Chloe Rhodes’ book, An Unkindness of Ravens: A Book of Collective Nouns. If you like this post, y’all should check it out (the cover is goth AF, too).
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Skulk of foxes
Fun fact: depending where you hail from, foxes can also be grouped in a ‘charm’, an ‘earth’, a ‘troop’ or a ‘leash’.
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Flutter of butterflies
Can also be called a ‘rabble’, a ‘flight’ or a ‘kaleidoscope’.
This little critter doesn’t just get a cool collective noun in its evolved form — caterpillars are an ‘army’.
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Streak of tigers
Tigers can also be grouped in an ‘ambush’.
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Parliament of owls
…probably because they’re so wise and shit.
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Consortium of octopuses
I’m not doing to dwell too long on why this creature has this collective noun.
I’m deathly afraid of octopuses and the thought of a gang of them is almost too much for me to handle.
Tried to find a stock image and threw up in my mouth repeatedly. Here’s a wooden one instead.
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Raft of otters
Otters are also collectively known as a ‘family’, a ‘lodge’ or a ‘romp’.
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Tower of giraffes
They tall.
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Thunder of hippos
A gang of hippos can also be called a ‘bloat’ (that’s not as cute, though).
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Cauldron of bats
These little guys can also be called a ‘colony’.
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Cackle of hyenas
This name is pretty self-explanatory.
On the same logic, a group of Emma Cownleys should also be called a ‘cackle’.
Alternative hyena names include ‘clan’.
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Unkindness of Ravens
Kinda harsh, but there we go. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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Nuisance of cats
In my opinion, cats get all the best names.
As well as a ‘nuisance’, they can also be called a ‘pounce’, a ‘clutter’, a ‘glare’ or a ‘clowder’.