|
|
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1
stranger
|
OP
stranger
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1 |
I have been trying to find an accredited collective noun for butterflies - there are plenty of suggestions on the web but does anyone know a collective noun for butterflies which can be traced to any authorised source?
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,204
Pooh-Bah
|
|
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,204 |
<< collective noun for butterflies >
Collective nouns were originally called "nouns of congregation" (when I was a youth, many years ago) Possibly the ommission of such a noun for butterflies is because they don't congregate ?
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
if you've ever seen a Monarch migration, you would have to agree that (while they may travel individually) they certainly congregate wherever there is milkweed.
and on a coincidental note, Amazon claims that "What do you call a group of butterflies?" is to be published this month, so perhaps we'll soon have an answer....
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,204
Pooh-Bah
|
|
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,204 |
> if you've ever seen a Monarch migration,
As a staunch republican (with a small initial), a Monarch migration is what I would dearly love to see.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 |
Rather belated welcome, Rhuby!
>>As a staunch republican (with a small initial), a Monarch migration is what I would dearly love to see.
That was a good one! Very slick. Yes, I chose purple deliberately.
Looking forward to reading many more from you!
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 460
addict
|
|
addict
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 460 |
Welcome, Tim, and thank you for giving me another opportunity to check James Lipton's wonderful "An exaltation of larks". Alas he has nothing on butterflies, but as usual, I found some other beauties:
- a piddle of puppies
- a sloth of bears (no polar bears, Jackie!) and
- an incredulity of cuckolds.
More when serendipity strikes again.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,065
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,065 |
a churn of butterflies, perhaps? Or a stomach of butterflies?
Bingley
Bingley
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,409
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,409 |
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
flurry sounds so... well... agitated. how about 'float' (apologies to M. Ali), or even 'flutter'....
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 200
enthusiast
|
|
enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 200 |
i'll go with "stomach of butterflies"
|
|
|
|
Forums16
Topics13,915
Posts229,929
Members9,198
| |
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
|
|
|
0 members (),
779
guests, and
4
robots. |
|
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
|
