A group of wildcats is, in old hunting tradition, known as a destruction. What Does “A Destruction of Wildcats” Mean? “Destruction” is one of the more theatrical entries in the long tradition of English collective nouns, and like many of the strangest ones, it traces back to medieval hunting terminology, specifically the kind of vivid, … Read more
A group of colts is, in old English tradition, called a rag. What Does “A Rag of Colts” Mean? “Rag” is one of several old, lesser-known collective nouns applied to young horses, and colts in particular, though a clear, verifiable origin for the word in this context is hard to pin down. It shows up … Read more
A group of roe deer is known as a bevy. What Does “A Bevy of Roe Deer” Mean? “Bevy” is a term most people associate with birds, quail in particular, but it also appears in older English hunting and nature word lists as a collective noun for roe deer, a small deer species native to … Read more
A group of eland is known as a herd. What Does “A Herd of Eland” Mean? “Herd” is the standard collective noun for eland, Africa’s largest antelope species, and a fittingly simple word for an animal that can weigh close to a ton yet still moves with the same general social structure as much smaller … Read more
A group of gnus is known as a herd. What Does “A Herd of Gnus” Mean? “Herd” is the standard, no-frills collective noun for gnus, more widely known as wildebeest, and it accurately describes an animal famous for forming some of the largest and most dramatic herds in the natural world. The annual Great Migration … Read more
A group of hamsters is playfully known as a horde. What Does “A Horde of Hamsters” Mean? “Horde” is a playful, slightly ironic choice for hamsters, given that most pet hamster species are famously, almost aggressively solitary in the wild and in captivity, often fighting if housed together as adults. The word likely gets its … Read more
A group of elephants is appropriately known as a herd. What Does “A Herd of Elephants” Mean? “Herd” is the standard collective noun for elephants, and elephant herds are among the most extensively studied and best understood social structures in the animal kingdom. A typical herd is led by a matriarch, usually the oldest and … Read more