Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution => Topic started by: paul.fr on 13/07/2007 10:40:23

Title: Why is a group of giraffes called a journey?
Post by: paul.fr on 13/07/2007 10:40:23: why in the world is a group of giraffes, called a journey?
Title: Re: Why is a group of giraffes called a journey?
Post by: Karen W. on 13/07/2007 10:45:18: I wonder if it is because of how they journeyed from one place to Africa? I really don't know!
Title: Re: Why is a group of giraffes called a journey?
Post by: dentstudent on 13/07/2007 10:48:07: For the same reason crows are a murder.
Title: Re: Why is a group of giraffes called a journey?
Post by: paul.fr on 13/07/2007 10:49:54: Quote from: dentstudent on 13/07/2007 10:48:07
For the same reason crows are a murder.

which is? Please don't mention murder Stuart, goes off to think of ever more ingenious ways...
Title: Re: Why is a group of giraffes called a journey?
Post by: Karen W. on 13/07/2007 10:52:37: Quote from: paul.fr on 13/07/2007 10:49:54
Quote from: dentstudent on 13/07/2007 10:48:07
For the same reason crows are a murder.

which is? Please don't mention murder Stuart, goes off to think of ever more ingenious ways...

NOW NOW.. LOL Come back here! LOL why are they called a Journey!
Title: Re: Why is a group of giraffes called a journey?
Post by: paul.fr on 13/07/2007 10:54:04: they should all be called "a lot of...", that would make things easier. I saw a lot of giraffes today, or a lot of cows. how easy is that?
Title: Re: Why is a group of giraffes called a journey?
Post by: dentstudent on 13/07/2007 10:54:28: Quote from: paul.fr on 13/07/2007 10:49:54
Quote from: dentstudent on 13/07/2007 10:48:07
For the same reason crows are a murder.

Please don't mention murder Stuart, goes off to think of ever more ingenious ways...
[:D]

From Wiki

"Venery"

The tradition of using collective nouns that are specific to certain kinds of animals stems from an English hunting tradition, dating back to at least the 15th century, in which poetic names were given to specific kinds of prey ("venery" means the hunting of animals). For this reason, there are many collective nouns that refer to animals and many of these original collective nouns are archaic: a "harras of horses" seems to have been used little since the 1400s. Some alternatives for collective nouns can be clearly traced to the evolution of pronunciation in different areas (hence a "parcel of hogs" and a "passel of hogs").

Sometimes a term of venery will apply to a group only in a certain context. "Herd" can properly refer to a group of wild horses, but not to a group of domestic horses. A "paddling of ducks" only refers to ducks on water.

Interest in constituent-object-specific collective nouns has always remained high, and the coining of candidate collective nouns has been a pastime (usually humorous) of many writers ever since, including for non-animal nouns, such as professions, e.g., a "sequitur of logicians".
Title: Re: Why is a group of giraffes called a journey?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 13/07/2007 11:01:01: 1 of my favourites is a morbidity of majors [:D]

See here for more...

http://www.ojohaven.com/collectives/ (http://www.ojohaven.com/collectives/)

Also see here for some sensible(?) suggestions...

http://www.jimwegryn.com/Words/CollectiveNouns.htm (http://www.jimwegryn.com/Words/CollectiveNouns.htm)
Title: Re: Why is a group of giraffes called a journey?
Post by: Karen W. on 13/07/2007 11:20:29: Quote from: paul.fr on 13/07/2007 10:54:04
they should all be called "a lot of...", that would make things easier. I saw a lot of giraffes today, or a lot of cows. how easy is that?

OK.. I am lost again.. its ok!
Title: Re: Why is a group of giraffes called a journey?
Post by: Tricia HS on 14/07/2010 15:44:11: I'd like to know when the term journey for giraffes was first used ...... as well as "a clash of rhino" ... any ideas? My guess is victorian.