A List of Collective Nouns
There are two varieties of collective noun listed here. When I receive a submission, I check all available sources for a reference. If I find one (in, for instance, a dictionary), I denote it here as a "submission". If I don't, I denote it a "suggestion". Feel free to submit a collective noun if you don't find it here. The goal is not (yet) to be comprehensive - merely entertaining.
This list is alphabetical by the collective noun. You'll note that there are multiple listings for a few types, for instance, "a hive of bees" and "a swarm of bees". These typically refer to terms that stem from different types of collection. In the example, "hive" is from the domicile of bees, and "swarm" is from a group of flying bees. This will be noted, and derivation given, where possible and confirmed. Please feel free to submit derivations (or even corrections!) for verification.
· An abandonment of orphans > (-suggested by Toni Stern, via Gerald 'Jerry' Rounds, bloodflame@dellnet.com-)
· An absence of waiters > (-suggested by Alexander Page, alexander.page@hamburg.netsurf.de-)
· An accompaniment of condiments > (-suggested by David Lloyd-Mostyn, MUS9JAC@leeds.ac.uk-)
· An agenda of tasks > (-submitted by Jason Harris, harrij1@weiss.che.utexas.edu-)
· An ambush of widows > (-suggested by Angi Drew, A.Drew@sussex.ac.uk-)
· An annoyance of mobile phones > (-suggested by kenneth.crane@ntlworld.com-)
· An anthology of prostitutes > (derivation: see below5 -suggested by Mic Bergen, mbergen@anacreon.com-)
· An archive of programmers > (-suggested by Frank A. Geisel, frankie@mtg.saic.com-)
· An armada of ships > (-submitted by Jason Harris, harrij1@weiss.che.utexas.edu-)
· An array of luminaries > (-suggested by R, K, & F, infoman@gte.net)
· An assemblage of jigsaw puzzlers > (-suggested by R, K, & F, infoman@gte.net)
· An assembly of toys > (-suggested by Brian French, brian.french@pwgsc.gc.ca-)
· An asylum of managers > (-suggested by Rodney Jude, Rodney.Jude@tesco.net-)
· An atlas of maps > (-submitted by David Bannister, db@antiquemaps.co.uk, from the CD-ROM version of the OED-)
· An audit of accountants > (-suggested by Richard Blackwell, richard@planetsymphony.com-)
· An audit of bookkeepers > (-suggested by Richard Blackwell, richard@planetsymphony.com-)
· An aurora of polar bears > (-suggested by Marila Belcher, MARILAB@iadb.org-)
· A babel of words > (-suggested by Michael G. Pirrello, CHMM, pirre001@acpub.duke.edu-)
· A balance of accountants > (-suggested by Dan Hubbard, hubbard@msmary.edu-)
· A bale of turtles
· A ballet of swans > (-suggested by Diane L. Gottheiner, diane.gottheiner@sap-ag.de-)
· A band of gorillas
· A bank of circuits > (-submitted by Jason Harris, harrij1@weiss.che.utexas.edu-)
· A bank of monitors > (-submitted by Jason Harris, harrij1@weiss.che.utexas.edu-)
· A battery of tests > (-submitted by David Henderson, davidh@camelot.bradley.edu-)
· A beautification of spatulas > (-suggested by jeff brown, brown-0007@eastplains.net-)
· A belt of asteroids > (-submitted by Jason Harris, harrij1@weiss.che.utexas.edu-)
· A bestiary of mythological creatures > (-submitted by Jason Harris, harrij1@weiss.che.utexas.edu-)
· A bevy of dowagers > (-suggested by David Bannister, db@antiquemaps.co.uk-)
· A bevy of quail
· A bevy of tanked sorority girls > (possibly from Outland, -submitted by Jason Harris, harrij1@weiss.che.utexas.edu-)
· A billing of consultants > (-suggested by Brian French, brian.french@pwgsc.gc.ca-)
· A blessing of unicorns > (-submitted by Marila Belcher, MARILAB@iadb.org-)
· A bond of British secret agents > (-suggested by Rex Stocklin, stocklin@earthlink.net-)
· A bongsuckling of white house staffers > (-suggested by Daniel J. Lash, danlash@tln.net-)
· A boo of surprises > (-submitted by David Henderson, davidh@camelot.bradley.edu-)
· A bottle of source code > (-suggested by Paul Gallagher, paulpg@ozemail.com.au-)
· A brace of grouse
· A brace of orthodontists > (-suggested by R, K, & F, infoman@gte.net)
· A brigade of soldiers > (-submitted by Greg Hanka, ghanka@bindview.com-)
· A bunch of drongoes > (-suggested by David Bannister, db@antiquemaps.co.uk-)
· A bunch of janes > (-suggested by David Bannister, db@antiquemaps.co.uk-)
· A business of ferrets > (-submitted by Liz Moore, lmoore@gate.mrc.gov.au-)
· A buttload of proctologists > (-suggested by Frc1000@aol.com-)
· A camp of transvestites > (-suggested by Brett_Adkins, hadkins@tmecl.co.za Suggestion-)
· A cast of actors > (thousands, etc., in a performance -thanks to fisher, vonzelle@interport.net-)
· A cast of hawks
· A cavalcade of horsemen > (-submitted by Jason Harris, harrij1@weiss.che.utexas.edu-)
· A cete of badgers
· A chain of islands > (-submitted by Jason Harris, harrij1@weiss.che.utexas.edu-)
· A charlotte of webpages > (-submitted by David Henderson, davidh@camelot.bradley.edu-)
· A charm of finches
· A chattering of choughs
· A chorus of angels > (-submitted by Marila Belcher, MARILAB@iadb.org-)
· A circle of Babbitts > (-suggested by David Bannister, db@antiquemaps.co.uk-)
· A circus of fighter > (aircraft -submitted by David Bannister, db@antiquemaps.co.uk, from the CD-ROM version of the OED-)
· A class of students
· A clench of sphincters > (-suggested by Rowan Hamilton, rhamilt@unixhub.slac.stanford.edu-)
· A click of > (computer) mice > (-submitted by David Henderson, davidh@camelot.bradley.edu-)
· A cloud of gnats
· A cloud of plankton > (-suggested by David Lucas, David.Lucas@computershare.com.au-)
· A clowder of cats
· A clump of freshman > (-suggested by Dave Mallick, mallick@panther.middlebury.edu-)
· A clutch of auto mechanics > (-suggested by R, K, & F, infoman@gte.net-)
· A clutch of chicks
· A clutch of leering women > (-suggested by David Bannister, db@antiquemaps.co.uk-)
· A clutch of testicles > (-suggested by Ron Carroll, ronbo@gol.com-)
· A clutch of wrestlers > (-suggested by Joan Garinger, jgaringer@earthlink.net-)
· A clutter of cats
· A collective of nouns > (-suggested by Bruce Crichton, rainbow1@jax-inter.net-)
· A colony of microbiologists > (-suggested by Brad Childs, Brad.Childs@pfizer.com of Australia-)
· A company of soldiers > (-submitted by ghanka@bindview.com-)
· A compromise of senators > (-suggested by Daniel J. Lash, danlash@tln.net-)
· A conflagration of arsonists > (-suggested by Chet Meek, cmeek@city.grande-prairie.ab.ca-)
· A conflagration of pyromaniacs > (-suggested by Chet Meek, cmeek@city.grande-prairie.ab.ca-)
· A confusion of [traffic] cones > (-suggested by Margaret Webb, j&m@arachnid.freeserve.co.uk-)
· A congregation of plovers
· A congregation of worshipers
· A consort of Corgwyn > ("Corgwyn - pronounced "corg'n," I think - is the plural for Corgi, either Pembroke or Cardigan". -suggested by Chris, Csv1026@aol.com-)
· A conspiracy of ravens > (-submitted from Marila Belcher, MARILAB@iadb.org-)
· A constable of ravens > (-suggested by Adrian de Bear, adebear@spirit.com.au-)
· A constellation of satellites > (-suggested by Patrick Murphy, pmurphy@space.honeywell.com-)
· A corps of cadets > (-submitted by Jason Harris, harrij1@weiss.che.utexas.edu-)
· A coven of witches > (-submitted by Alan Montemayor, amontemayor@swri.edu-)
· A covey of quail
· A crash of software > (-suggested by Greg Hanka, ghanka@bindview.com-)
· A creep of tortoises > (-suggested by Susan Burton, Sue.R.Burton@btinternet.com-)
· A crew of military barbers > (-suggested by R, K, & F, infoman@gte.net)
· A crowd of onlookers
· A crush of icebergs > (-suggested by Michael, camperik@mb.sympatico.ca-)
· A cry of hounds
· A culture of bacteria > (-submitted by Jason Harris, harrij1@weiss.che.utexas.edu-)
· A cutch of vellum > (-suggested by David Bannister, db@antiquemaps.co.uk-)
· A cutting of cynics > (-suggested by David Bannister, db@antiquemaps.co.uk-)
· A deceit of lapwings
· A deficit of economists > (-suggested by Ted Roseman, troseman@magi.com-)
· A density of meatheads > (-suggested by Chet Meek, cmeek@city.grande-prairie.ab.ca-)
· A descent of woodpeckers
· A design of engineers > (-suggested by Frank A. Geisel, frankie@mtg.saic.com-)
· A desperation of divorcees > (-suggested by Toni Stern, via Gerald 'Jerry' Rounds, bloodflame@dellnet.com-)
· A desperation of voters > (-suggested by David Bannister, db@antiquemaps.co.uk-)
· A disputation of lawyers > (-suggested by Lee Daniel Quinn, gramps@iop.com-)
· A division of soldiers > (-submitted by Greg Hanka, ghanka@bindview.com-)
· A doom of dragons > (-suggested by ghrowl@phunsite.net-)
· A down of hares
· A dray of squirrels
· A drift of icebergs > (-suggested by Michael, camperik@mb.sympatico.ca-)
· A drift of swine
· A drove of cabbies > (-suggested by R. & K. Mendell, infoman@gte.net-)
· A drove of cattle
· A drumming of grouse > (derivation: their mating call, generated with the wings. -submitted by ojo6-)
· An embarrassment of parents > (for use by teenagers, -suggested by Jim Ahlberg, ahlberg@ns.rochelle.net-)
· An encroachment of fence-builders > (-suggested by Chet Meek, cmeek@city.grande-prairie.ab.ca-)
· An ensemble of homosexuals > (-suggested by David Rachlin, Rachlin1@ix.netcom.com-)
· A fascination of listeners > (-suggested by Chet Meek, cmeek@city.grande-prairie.ab.ca-)
· A fascination of on-lookers > (-suggested by Chet Meek, cmeek@city.grande-prairie.ab.ca-)
· A fidget of suspects > (-suggested by Dennis Meyler, dmeyler@hti.net-)
· A fistful of dollars > (-submitted by Jason Harris, harrij1@weiss.che.utexas.edu-)
· A fleet of ships > (-submitted by Marila Belcher, MARILAB@iadb.org-)
· A flight of swallows
· A flink of cows > (twelve or more, submitted by Marila Belcher, MARILAB@iadb.org-)
· A flitch of bacon > (-suggested by David Bannister, db@antiquemaps.co.uk-)
· A flock of tourists > (-suggested by an anonymous fan-)
· A flotilla of ships > (-submitted by Jason Harris, harrij1@weiss.che.utexas.edu-)
· A flunk of students > (-suggested by Greg Hanka, ghanka@bindview.com-)
· A flock of white Christmas trees > (-suggested by R, K, & F, infoman@gte.net)
· A flood of plumbers > (-suggested by R, K, & F, infoman@gte.net)
· A formality of penguins > (-suggested by Susu413@aol.com-)
· A galaxy of stars > (-submitted by Jason Harris, harrij1@weiss.che.utexas.edu-)
· A galaxy of starlets > (-submitted by Jason Harris, harrij1@weiss.che.utexas.edu-)
· A gallop of Greyhounds > (-suggested by Chris, Csv1026@aol.com-)
· A gang of elk
· A gang of hoodlums > (-submitted by Marila Belcher, MARILAB@iadb.org-)
· A geek of engineers > (-suggested by Adam Pederson, pederson@rtt.colorado.edu-)
· A giggle of girls > (-suggested by Kyle Hasselbacher, kyle@prarienet.org-)
· A glut of parrs > (-suggested by David Bannister, db@antiquemaps.co.uk-)
· A glut of pleasure > (-suggested by David Bannister, db@antiquemaps.co.uk-)
· A gossip of relatives > (-suggested by David Rachlin, Rachlin1@ix.netcom.com-)
· A greed of lawyers > (-suggested by Mic Bergen, mbergen@anacreon.com-)
· A grip of hand tools > (-suggested by Adam Pederson, pederson@rtt.colorado.edu-)
· A gross of farts > (-suggested by Peter Smith, petergeo@pipeline.com-)
· A grove of trees > (-submitted by Jason Harris, harrij1@weiss.che.utexas.edu-)
· A grumble of Pugs > (-suggested by Chris, Csv1026@aol.com-)
· A gush of sycophants > (-suggested by Mal Walker, walkerus@tpg.com.au-)
· A handful of palm readers > (-suggested by R. & K. Mendell, infoman@gte.net-)
· A harmony of singers > (suggested by Jim Ahlberg, ahlberg@ns.rochelle.net-)
· A hassle of errands > (-suggested by Greg Hanka, ghanka@bindview.com-)
· A hatchet of corporate downsizing proposals > (-suggested by Greg Hanka, ghanka@bindview.com-)
· A heap of front-end loaders > (-suggested by R, K, & F, infoman@gte.net)
· A heap of trash > (-submitted by Jason Harris, harrij1@weiss.che.utexas.edu-)
· A heard of blind people > (-suggested by Andy Roberts, aroberts@gsm.ucdavis.edu-)
· A herd of elephants
· A herd of pigs > (-suggested by Lisa Donnelly, lisa@omniserv.co.za-)
· A hide of tigers > (-suggested by Margaret Harley-)
· A hill of beans > (-submitted by Jason Harris, harrij1@weiss.che.utexas.edu-)
· A hive of bees > (derivation: habitat.)
· A horde of gnats
· A host of angels > (-submitted from Marila Belcher, MARILAB@iadb.org-)
· A host of sparrows
· A hover of trout
· A huddle of hippos > (-suggested by R, K, & F, infoman@gte.net)
· A huddle of lawyers > (-submitted by Dennis Meyler, dmeyler@hti.net-)
· A hug of teddy bears > (-submitted by Danie Cox-Tonkin, saffire@busprod.com, quoting The Teddy Bear Encyclopedia by Pauline Cockrill, ISBN 1-56458-302-3-)
· An incantation of warlocks > (-suggested by Chet Meek, cmeek@city.grande-prairie.ab.ca-)
· An incantation of witches > (-suggested by Chet Meek, cmeek@city.grande-prairie.ab.ca-)
· An incision of surgeons > (-suggested by David Bannister, db@antiquemaps.co.uk-)
· An indecision of managers > (-suggested by Tim Hamilton, hamilt@labyrinth.net.au-)
· A jackson of gloves > (-suggested by Paul Gallagher, paulpg@ozemail.com.au-)
· A jagger of tongues > (-suggested by Paul Gallagher, paulpg@ozemail.com.au-)
· A jam of tarts > (-suggested by Mic Bergen, mbergen@anacreon.com-)
· A Kervorkian of I.U. Med Students > (-suggested by Daniel J. Lash, danlash@tln.net-)
· A kettle of drums > (-suggested by David Bannister, db@antiquemaps.co.uk-)
· A knot of eels > (-suggested by David Bannister, db@antiquemaps.co.uk-)
· A knot of frogs > (-suggested by Rex Stocklin, stocklin@earthlink.net, quoting Richard Lederer's "The Play of Words"-)
· A knot of renters > (-suggested by David Bannister, db@antiquemaps.co.uk-)
· A knot of Scottish bankers > (-suggested by David Bannister, db@antiquemaps.co.uk-)
· A knot of shoelaces > (-suggested by Amellia Kapa, shakeney@xtra.co.nz-)
· A knot of toads > (derivation: appearance.)
· A knuckle of gangsters > (-suggested by Alexandra Irvin, airvin@coast.com-)
· A leap of hares > (-submitted by luigi@vercotti.demon.co.uk-)
· A leash of foxes
· A leash of hares > (-suggested by David Bannister, db@antiquemaps.co.uk-)
· A lechery of priests > (-suggested by Toni Stern, via Gerald 'Jerry' Rounds, bloodflame@dellnet.com-)
· A lie of politicians > (-submitted anonymously-)
· A litter of pigs
· A luck of dice > (-suggested by Ginny Gross, ginnyg@execpc.com-)
· A lump of toads > (-suggested by Rowan Hamilton, rhamilt@unixhub.slac.stanford.edu-)
· A magnum of hitmen > (-suggested by Kyle Hasselbacher, kyle@prarienet.org-)
· A mass of Catholics > (-suggested by Dave Mallick, mallick@panther.middlebury.edu-)
· A maul of bears > (-suggested by Karl Broughton, karl_broughton@mindlink.bc.ca-)
· A maze of canyons > (-submitted by Jason Harris, harrij1@weiss.che.utexas.edu-)
· A meaning of dictionaries > (-suggested by Amellia Kapa, shakeney@xtra.co.nz-)
· A meet of racehorses > (-suggested by Karl Broughton, karl_broughton@mindlink.bc.ca-)
· A menage of mongrels > (-suggested by Chris, Csv1026@aol.com-)
· A mess of grits > (-submitted by Jason Harris, harrij1@weiss.che.utexas.edu-)
· A mess of little boys > (-suggested by Joan Garinger, jgaringer@earthlink.net-)
· A mess of officers > (-submitted by Marila Belcher, MARILAB@iadb.org-)
· A minuscule of sub-atomic particles > (-suggested by Chet Meek, cmeek@city.grande-prairie.ab.ca-)
· A minyan of Jews > (the quorum for a congregation, -submitted by David Rachlin, Rachlin1@ix.netcom.com-)
· A mixture of pharmacists > (-suggested by Chet Meek, cmeek@city.grande-prairie.ab.ca-)
· A mob of Texans > (-suggested by David Bannister, db@antiquemaps.co.uk-)
· A murder of crows
· A murmer of nuns > (as of their sound. -suggested by proman, proman@supanet.com-)
· A muster of peacocks
· A mustering of storks > (-suggested by Rex Stocklin, stocklin@earthlink.net, quoting Richard Lederer's "The Play of Words"-)
· A mute of hounds
· A nag of grandparents > (-suggested by David Rachlin, Rachlin1@ix.netcom.com-)
· A nest of machine guns > (-suggested by Greg D., pamille2@students.wisc.edu-)
· A network of computers > (linked together -submitted by Bob Brennert, bob@cknw.com-)
· A number of mathematicians > (-suggested by Ted Roseman, troseman@magi.com-)
· An orchestra of crickets > (-suggested by Marila Belcher, MARILAB@iadb.org-)
· An orchestra of musicians
· An order of waiters > (-suggested by Karl Schonborn, kschonbo@infodoor.co.za-)
· A pack of suitcases > (-suggested by R, K, & F, infoman@gte.net)
· A pad of > (sheets of) paper > (-submitted by Jason Harris, harrij1@weiss.che.utexas.edu-)
· A pair of horses
· A palm of wankers > (-suggested by Adrian de Bear, adebear@spirit.com.au-)
· A pantheon of gods > (-submitted by Jason Harris, harrij1@weiss.che.utexas.edu-)
· A parade of penguins > (-submitted by Susu413@aol.com-)
· A parliament of owls
· A parliament of rooks > (-submitted by Janice, jjc147@psuvm.psu.edu-)
· A patch of flowers > (-submitted by Jason Harris, harrij1@weiss.che.utexas.edu-)
· A peep-show of CDs > (-suggested by Paul Gallagher, paulpg@ozemail.com.au-)
· A pension of condominiums > (-suggested by Paul Gallagher, paulpg@ozemail.com.au-)
· A pie-full of apples > (-suggested by an anonymous fan-)
· A pile of dung > (-submitted by Jason Harris, harrij1@weiss.che.utexas.edu-)
· A platoon of soldiers > (-submitted by Greg Hanka, ghanka@bindview.com-)
· A plump of waterfowl > (-submitted by Dave M. Carden, davidc@pro-net.co.uk-)
· A plump of wildfowl > (-suggested by Rex Stocklin, stocklin@earthlink.net, quoting Richard Lederer's "The Play of Words"-)
· A plunder of goons > (-suggested by Chet Meek, cmeek@city.grande-prairie.ab.ca-)
· A pod of seals
· A poke of fencers > (-suggested by Mic Bergen, mbergen@anacreon.com-)
· A pomposity of professors > (from Boston Common -submitted by Matthew M. Burke, burkemat@lyco.lycoming.edu-)
· A ponder of philosophers > (-suggested by Greg Hanka, ghanka@bindview.com-)
· A posse of cock-turkeys > (-suggested by David Bannister, db@antiquemaps.co.uk-)
· A posse of posers > (-suggested by R, K, & F, infoman@gte.net)
· A pretension of intellects > (-suggested by Toni Stern, via Gerald 'Jerry' Rounds, bloodflame@dellnet.com-)
· A prevarication of consultants > (-suggested by James Macrae, james.macrae@compel.co.uk, from a colleague, andyp@sifutures.ltd.uk-)
· A prey of nuns > (-suggested by Peter Smith, petergeo@pipeline.com-)
· A prickle of hedgehogs > (-submitted by Duane Godwin, aztech1@cis.co.za-)
· A pride of lions
· A pride of stage mothers > (-suggested by R, K, & F, infoman@gte.net-)
· A pryde of griffins > (-suggested by Matthew Buenaflor, mbuenaflor@comcastwork.net-)
· A quake of cowards > (-suggested by Brian French, brian.french@pwgsc.gc.ca-)
· A quarrel of lawyers > (suggested by Jim Ahlberg, ahlberg@ns.rochelle.net-)
· A quiz of teachers > (-suggested by Jim Ahlberg, ahlberg@ns.rochelle.net-)
· A rabble of rats > (-suggested by Ken Gower, ken.gower@greenvale.co.uk-)
· A raft of canvass-back ducks > (-submitted by David Bannister, db@antiquemaps.co.uk, from the CD-ROM version of the OED-)
· A raft of widgeon > (-submitted by David Bannister, db@antiquemaps.co.uk, from the CD-ROM version of the OED-)
· A rain of cats and dogs > (-suggested by Phillip Blackerby, phillip@perfstrat.com-)
· A ramuda of horses > (in a large group, as a herd) > (-suggested by Phillip Blackerby, phillip@perfstrat.com-)
· A Rand of Objectivists > (-suggested by Greg Hanka, ghanka@bindview.com-)
· A range of mountains > (-submitted by Jason Harris, harrij1@weiss.che.utexas.edu-)
· A ream of bureaucrats > (-suggested by Joseph Nied, jn3@ois.lemuria.com-)
· A reflection of narcissists > (-suggested by Paul Healy, phealy@mis.gla.ac.uk-)
· A regatta of swans > (on water. -suggested by Mal Walker, walkerus@tpg.com.au-)
· A rhyme of poets > (suggested by Jim Ahlberg, ahlberg@ns.rochelle.net-)
· A ring of keys > (linked physically, -submitted by Jason Harris, harrij1@weiss.che.utexas.edu-)
· A route of wolves > (-submitted by Rex Stocklin, stocklin@earthlink.net, quoting Richard Lederer's "The Play of Words"-)
· A run of cowards > (-suggested by Rex Stocklin, stocklin@earthlink.net-)
· A rush of overnight couriers > (-suggested by R, K, & F, infoman@gte.net)
· A salon of Poodles > (-suggested by Chris, Csv1026@aol.com-)
· A scandal of shoes > (-suggested by redshirt@altavista.net-)
· A school of fish > (derivation: error. Was originally "shoal".)
· A sedge of cranes
· A set of mathematicians > (-suggested by Ted Roseman, troseman@magi.com-)
· A shitload of troubles > (-submitted by Jason Harris, harrij1@weiss.che.utexas.edu-)
· A shoal of bass
· A shoal[e] of goslings > (-suggested by David Bannister, db@antiquemaps.co.uk-)
· A shoal of shad > (-submitted by David Bannister, db@antiquemaps.co.uk, from the CD-ROM version of the OED-)
· A shortage of dwarves > (-from the Globe and Mail Newspaper?, submitted anonymously-)
· A shrewdness of apes
· A siege of herons
· A skulk of foxes > (derivation: behavior.)
· A slew of homework > (-submitted by Jason Harris, harrij1@weiss.che.utexas.edu-)
· A slither of snakes > (-suggested by David Rachlin, Rachlin1@ix.netcom.com-)
· A snap of photographers > (-suggested by David Bannister, db@antiquemaps.co.uk-)
· A sneak of weasels > (derivation: behavior. -Laura John, ljohn@salsa.walldata.com-)
· A souffle of clouds > (derivation: appearance -suggested by Ron Hawker, freshflowers@igrin.co.nz-)
· A Sousa of marching bands > (suggested by Jim Ahlberg, ahlberg@ns.rochelle.net-)
· A splash of puddles > (-suggested by Amellia Kapa, shakeney@xtra.co.nz-)
· A spread of nymphomaniacs > (-suggested by [someone at] Evergreen School of English, everg@baobab.or.jp-)
· A spring of seals
· A sproutness of mushrooms > (-suggested by David Rachlin, Rachlin1@ix.netcom.com-)
· A squad of soldiers > (-submitted by Marila Belcher, MARILAB@iadb.org-)
· A squash of sermons > (-suggested by David Bannister, db@antiquemaps.co.uk-)
· A squeal of nieces > (-suggested by Katherine Spivey, SpiveyK@theiacp.org-)
· A squint of proofreaders > (-suggested by Katherine Spivey, SpiveyK@theiacp.org-)
· A stable of prostitutes > (-submitted by Jason Harris, harrij1@weiss.che.utexas.edu-)
· A staff of employees > (-submitted by Philip F. Karpel, Jr., pkarpel@key-logic.com-)
· A stand of trees > (-submitted by Jason Harris, harrij1@weiss.che.utexas.edu-)
· A stash of weed > (when hidden, -submitted by Jason Harris, harrij1@weiss.che.utexas.edu-)
· A steam of turds > (-suggested by Adrian de Bear, adebear@spirit.com.au-)
· A stench of skunks > (-submitted by David Henderson, davidh@camelot.bradley.edu-)
· A stock of portfolio managers > (-suggested by R, K, & F, infoman@gte.net)
· A strangle of bad laws > (-suggested by Ron Hawker, freshflowers@xtra.co.nz-)
· A stretch of giraffes > (-suggested by Katherine Spivey, SpiveyK@theiacp.org-)
· A stripe of zebras > (-suggested by David Rachlin, Rachlin1@ix.netcom.com-)
· A stud of mares
· A subtlety of designers > (-suggested by Frank A. Geisel, frankie@mtg.saic.com-)
· A sulk of teenagers > (-suggested by Chet Meek, cmeek@city.grande-prairie.ab.ca-)
· A superfluity of priests > (-suggested by David Bannister, db@antiquemaps.co.uk-)
· A superfluity of similes > (-suggested by David Bannister, db@antiquemaps.co.uk-)
· A swarm of cockroaches > (-suggested by David Bannister, db@antiquemaps.co.uk-)
· A swarm of dirty ragged plebeians > (-suggested by David Bannister, db@antiquemaps.co.uk-)
· A swarm of haries > (-suggested by David Bannister, db@antiquemaps.co.uk-)
· A swarm of literary drones > (-suggested by David Bannister, db@antiquemaps.co.uk-)
· A swarm of suitors > (-suggested by David Bannister, db@antiquemaps.co.uk-)
· A swarm of sycophants > (-suggested by David Bannister, db@antiquemaps.co.uk-)
· A sweetness of sopranos > (suggested by Jim Ahlberg, ahlberg@ns.rochelle.net-)
· A swelter of blankets > (-suggested by Katherine Spivey, SpiveyK@theiacp.org-)
· A tangle of tricksters > (according to Ms. Carol Ramsey and the classes of English 160 W97006 and English 160 W97008 at Camosun College in Victoria, BC. Canada -submitted by Prof. Peter Montgomery, Montgomery@camosun.bc.ca-)
· A team of atheletes > (-submitted by Jason Harris, harrij1@weiss.che.utexas.edu-)
· A team of horses
· A tedium of golfers > (-suggested by David Bannister, db@antiquemaps.co.uk-)
· A terror of terriers > ("as any cat knows!" -suggested by Chris, Csv1026@aol.com-)
· A ticktock of clocks > (-submitted by David Henderson, davidh@camelot.bradley.edu-)
· A tongue lashing of interpreters > (-suggested by Marila Belcher, MARILAB@iadb.org-)
· A tough of lesbians > (-suggested by David Rachlin, Rachlin1@ix.netcom.com-)
· A treachery of spies > (-suggested by Chet Meek, cmeek@city.grande-prairie.ab.ca-)
· A tribe of natives > (-submitted by Marila Belcher, MARILAB@iadb.org-)
· A trip of goats
· A troop of monkeys > (-suggested by Rex Stocklin, stocklin@earthlink.net, quoting Richard Lederer's "The Play of Words"-)
· A troup of performers > (-submitted by Jason Harris, harrij1@weiss.che.utexas.edu-)
· A tumult of tubas > (suggested by Jim Ahlberg, ahlberg@ns.rochelle.net-)
· A tuz of hair > (-suggested by David Bannister, db@antiquemaps.co.uk-)
· A tyranny of dictators > (-suggested by Chet Meek, cmeek@city.grande-prairie.ab.ca-)
· An unkindness of ravens > (-submitted by Eve Costello-)
· A vagary of impediments > (-suggested by Chet Meek, cmeek@city.grande-prairie.ab.ca-)
· A vision of optometrists > (-suggested by Amellia Kapa, shakeney@xtra.co.nz-)
· A waddle of Basset Hounds > (-suggested by Chris, Csv1026@aol.com-)
· A wailing of Weight Watchers > (-suggested by Sue Henczel, zsmh02@gascor.vic.gov.au, from Anne M. Murphy-)
· A wash of emotions > (-suggested by Rex Stocklin, stocklin@earthlink.net-)
· A watch of nightingales
· A wave of surfers > (-suggested by Brian French, brian.french@pwgsc.gc.ca-)
· A wealth of information
· A whored of prostitutes > (-suggested by Phillip Blackerby, phillip@perfstrat.com-)
· A wing of > (fighter) aircraft > (-submitted by Jason Harris, harrij1@weiss.che.utexas.edu-)
· A wisdom of grandparents > (-suggested by Jim Ahlberg, ahlberg@ns.rochelle.net-)
· A wisdom of owls > (-thanks to Diane L. Gottheiner, diane.gottheiner@sap-ag.de-)
· A wisp of snipe
· A wriggle of worms > (-suggested by Norman Peters, npeters@mail.act.apana.org.au-)
· A yoke of pilots > (-suggested by R. & K. Mendell, infoman@gte.net-)
· A yoke of oxen
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1TR denotes Terry Ross, author of Group Names for Birds
2CCW denotes Crane C. Walden, cranew@foothill.net
3MG denotes Matt Goers, matt.j.goers@medtronic.com, quoting from The Trivia Encyclopedia and Webster's New Dictionary and Thesaurus, Concise edition > (see the bibliography)
4RP denotes Richard Paterak, rpaterak@hurontario.net
5According to Jeansp@aol.com:
The suggestion about an anthology of prostitutes is part of a joke I heard years ago:
A group of specialists in collective nouns was in bar an observed such a group of professionals and came up with the following:
A jam of tarts
A flourish of strumpets
An anthology of English pros
6Confirmed by ojo@ojohaven.com in An Exaltation of Larks: The Ultimate Edition, by James Lipton, published by Penguin USA, 1993. ISBN 0-140-17096-0.
7Submitted by Jeannette van Arenthals > (info@alfa-beta.nl), Robert S Owen > (Owen.Robert.S@edumail.vic.gov.au), and Richard Wakem > (richard.wakem.@libertysurf.co.uk), the last of whom gives the following reference:
In the English TV-series 'Inspector Morse', the protagonist asks this colleagues at the scene of the crime if there is a collective noun for pathologists. They decide on 'a body of pathologists'
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