WORDS WE DON'T USE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 83, 8 April 1933, Page 8 (Supplement)

WORDS WE DON'T USE.

A large number of the 'old nouns of multitude have dropped out of our ordinary language. We still speak of a "hive of bees," a "school of whales," a "team of oxen," a "covey of partridges," and a "take of fish," but who to-day hears of a "skulk of foxes," a "pride of lions," a "wisp of snipe," a "game of swans," a "tribe of goats," or a "mute of hounds" 1 W'e still speak of a pack of hounds, but never of a "cowardice of curs"; of a flight of birds, but never of a "nid of pheasants," a "fall of woodcock" or a "pack of grouse." It is correct to say a couple of foxhounds, but one ought to say a brace of pointers, setters, spaniels, terriers or greyhounds. Sportsmen call three greyhounds a "leash," but three of all the others mentioned above should be "a couple and a" half." The old-time sportsman spoke of a "state of princes," a "skull; of: a "blush of boys," a "gagle of women;" a "mob of roughs," a "gang of slaves," a "non-patience of wives," a "blast of hunters," a "draught of butlers," a .'-temperance of cooks," a "disguise of tailors," and a "dninkenship ; of . >■ v i