A barrel of monkeys : a compendium of collective nouns for animals /
Fanous, Samuel, 1962-
A barrel of monkeys : a compendium of collective nouns for animals / compiled by Samuel Fanous ; with illustrations by Thomas Bewick ; foreword by Susie Dent. - viii pages, 118 unnumbered pages : illustrations ; 18 cm
Arranged alphabetically by common name of mammal or fish. "Illustrations by Thomas Bewick originally published in A general history of quadrupeds, second edition, 1791, and A natural history of fishes, 1815"--Page [3] of cover.
We're all familiar with 'a flock of sheep' but what are the collective nouns for racehorses, pigs, zebras or giraffes? Drawing on a range of sources, from fifteenth-century hunting terms to more recent inventions that have now entered the language, this book collects over 100 examples of the most interesting collective nouns for animals, each illustrated with charming woodcuts by the renowned naturalist engraver of the eighteenth century, Thomas Bewick. Some describe a key characteristic of the animal in question: 'a shrewdness of apes', 'a busyness of ferrets'. Others are delightfully humorous: 'a piddle of puppies', 'a crash of rhinoceroses'. Featuring pets, farmyard animals, big cats and wild beasts, this beautifully presented book is the perfect gift for animal lovers and all those with an interest in this quirky linguistic tradition.
9781851244454 185124445X
Mammals--Nomenclature (Popular)
Fishes--Nomenclature (Popular)
English language--Collective nouns.
Mammals--Dictionaries.
Fishes--Dictionaries.
Mammals--Pictorial works.
Fishes--Pictorial works.
Animals--Nomenclature (Popular)
A barrel of monkeys : a compendium of collective nouns for animals / compiled by Samuel Fanous ; with illustrations by Thomas Bewick ; foreword by Susie Dent. - viii pages, 118 unnumbered pages : illustrations ; 18 cm
Arranged alphabetically by common name of mammal or fish. "Illustrations by Thomas Bewick originally published in A general history of quadrupeds, second edition, 1791, and A natural history of fishes, 1815"--Page [3] of cover.
We're all familiar with 'a flock of sheep' but what are the collective nouns for racehorses, pigs, zebras or giraffes? Drawing on a range of sources, from fifteenth-century hunting terms to more recent inventions that have now entered the language, this book collects over 100 examples of the most interesting collective nouns for animals, each illustrated with charming woodcuts by the renowned naturalist engraver of the eighteenth century, Thomas Bewick. Some describe a key characteristic of the animal in question: 'a shrewdness of apes', 'a busyness of ferrets'. Others are delightfully humorous: 'a piddle of puppies', 'a crash of rhinoceroses'. Featuring pets, farmyard animals, big cats and wild beasts, this beautifully presented book is the perfect gift for animal lovers and all those with an interest in this quirky linguistic tradition.
9781851244454 185124445X
Mammals--Nomenclature (Popular)
Fishes--Nomenclature (Popular)
English language--Collective nouns.
Mammals--Dictionaries.
Fishes--Dictionaries.
Mammals--Pictorial works.
Fishes--Pictorial works.
Animals--Nomenclature (Popular)