Subject: Collective name for a group of Mice From: GUEST,d_hand Date: 16 Jan 03 - 11:00 AM Have looked up the usual sites on this one but can't find the collective name for a group of mice - if there is one.............. |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: Charley Noble Date: 16 Jan 03 - 11:07 AM Well, there are "pack rats" for a start but how about a "dice of mice" or maybe a "trice of mice"? Cheerily, Charley Noble |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: MMario Date: 16 Jan 03 - 11:07 AM in various sites found on google - searching for collective+mice click mischief nest horde |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: GUEST,d_hand Date: 16 Jan 03 - 11:08 AM I rather like 'A muddle of Mice' |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: dick greenhaus Date: 16 Jan 03 - 11:10 AM Collective nouns like this are fun to play with. They're called "venereal" nound--not because of social diseases, but because Venus was a huntress. I like a "gangle of adolescents" and a "cacophoby of folksingers". Probab;y the best designates a group of hookers--"a tray of tarts" or "an anthology of pros" |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: sian, west wales Date: 16 Jan 03 - 11:11 AM And I was thinking, 'a mickle of mice' ("many a little makes a mickle"). Or even 'a Mickey of mice'? sian |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: catspaw49 Date: 16 Jan 03 - 11:17 AM Meeces. Spaw |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: Dave Bryant Date: 16 Jan 03 - 11:19 AM What about a "squeak" of mice - no offence intended to LTS. |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: EBarnacle1 Date: 16 Jan 03 - 11:22 AM "I hate meeces to pieces." Having seen a lot of them together, how about a carpet of mice? |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: Guessed Date: 16 Jan 03 - 11:23 AM Well the Romans probable called them mouthfuls of mice. (glis glis it the edible doormouse) What about a mouseholefull of mice - not much better. Joy has been plagued with 'em and I won't tell you what she calls them at 2am when they go wlkabout. |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: GUEST,Les B. Date: 16 Jan 03 - 11:30 AM I thought Mice was the collective name for more than one mouse?? |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: MMario Date: 16 Jan 03 - 11:34 AM mice is the Plural of mouse. other examples: singular:goose plural:geese collective = a gaggle of geese singular: crow plural:crows collective = a murder of crows |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: GUEST,ClaireBear Date: 16 Jan 03 - 11:42 AM A skittering of mice . . . or, at the aforementioned 2am, a pestilence of mice. I speak as one who knows. |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: Pied Piper Date: 16 Jan 03 - 11:43 AM Who invents these silly words that nobody uses except in sad quizzes? "Oh look a murder of Cows" I don't think so. PP |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: MMario Date: 16 Jan 03 - 11:45 AM well no wonder no one uses it - it is a herd of cows. On the other hand - "murder" is very appropriate for a flock of crows - especially if they are ganging up on something. |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: Bagpuss Date: 16 Jan 03 - 11:48 AM I like an Unkindness of Ravens and a Parliament of Rooks |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: JudeL Date: 16 Jan 03 - 11:50 AM It's a parliament of owls |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: C-flat Date: 16 Jan 03 - 11:54 AM A load of bollocks? |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: artbrooks Date: 16 Jan 03 - 11:54 AM According to this place, "nest" is correct. |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: C-flat Date: 16 Jan 03 - 12:07 PM Nest here too. |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: JennyO Date: 16 Jan 03 - 12:11 PM C-flat, I noticed on your link, there is also listed : a horde of mice and a mischief of mice. I rather like the last one! Jenny |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: GUEST,ClaireBear Date: 16 Jan 03 - 12:12 PM Should've said that skittering and pestilence are my *own* venereal term for the pesky little beasties, with whom I live far too close quarters. Sorry for any misunderstanding. |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: Bee-dubya-ell Date: 16 Jan 03 - 12:24 PM I noticed that Art's link also listed "click". Odd that "click" should have been associated with mice long before the digital revolution. Personally, I prefer a "catful" of mice. Bruce |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: GUEST,ClaireBear Date: 16 Jan 03 - 12:31 PM Venus wasn't a huntress; that was Diana. Venereal in the sexual sense does relate back to Venus: ML veneria (sexual intercourse); L. venus (sexual love, sexual desire). However, venereal in the way we're using it comes from a completely different root -- the same root as venison: L. venari (to hunt, pursue). |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: Cluin Date: 16 Jan 03 - 01:15 PM I thought it had to be several crows (possible a specific number) perched in line, either on a branch or telephone wire for the group to constitute a murder? A fairly powerful omen. I recall reading that somewhere... |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: Rustic Rebel Date: 16 Jan 03 - 01:33 PM I liked yours Bee-Dubya-Ell- a catfull, mine on the other hand is a dogfull of mice- the cat doesn't do the mouse thing around here, the dogs do. Peace, Rustic |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 16 Jan 03 - 01:46 PM The group of mice in Bagpuss who used to sing folk songs with the Marvellous Mechanical Mouse Organ were just called the singing mice I think. |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: Genie Date: 16 Jan 03 - 02:09 PM How about "a scurry of mice?" Genie PS, My favorite "venereal name," is one Johnny Carson suggested on The Tonight Show: "a shaft of proctologists" |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: Schantieman Date: 16 Jan 03 - 02:09 PM Herd of cows? Yes of course I've heard of cows! ;-) |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 16 Jan 03 - 02:20 PM Choir of horses... |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: Amos Date: 16 Jan 03 - 02:25 PM An erosion of politicians... |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: Genie Date: 16 Jan 03 - 02:52 PM A fret of banjo pickers... An expansion of accordionists... A blast of trumpeters... |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: Rustic Rebel Date: 16 Jan 03 - 02:57 PM A bunch of celery Ok, I have no imagination at all! |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: C-flat Date: 16 Jan 03 - 03:30 PM A plate of sandwiches? me either! |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: GUEST,Les B. Date: 16 Jan 03 - 03:57 PM OK, then, a "plurality" of mice. |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: Amos Date: 16 Jan 03 - 04:06 PM A scram of mice? An excellence of Macs? A bloat of Pentiums? An uplift of songs? A crash of bug reports? A |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: artbrooks Date: 16 Jan 03 - 04:08 PM A meander of muggles? |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: GUEST,Lyle Date: 16 Jan 03 - 04:12 PM Go here: http://www.stalking.co.uk/group.html You will find names for just about every animal. And you will find this entry: Cats: Clowder, Clatter, Pounce You're welcome Lyle |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: MMario Date: 16 Jan 03 - 04:13 PM surely it would be an ordinary of muggles? |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: GUEST,Q Date: 16 Jan 03 - 04:19 PM Some old Englishman started all of this. I think it is called the Hunt Vocabulary, much added to in the 19th century. Probably started with a "pride" of lions, which dates to 1486 ("a pride of Lionys") Pride of lions leap of leopards, etc. etc. and no, it wasn't a trunkful of elephants. |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: GUEST,Lyle Date: 16 Jan 03 - 04:31 PM This is fun! Most places give the name of a group of mice as a Nest. However, this one: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/animals/Animalbabies.shtml gives the following: Baby: Pup, Pinkie, Kitten Group: Horde, Mischief I kinda like a "mischief of mice." Now, can someone work that phrase into a folk song? Lyle |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: David Ingerson Date: 16 Jan 03 - 05:31 PM There is no "correct" one. As was pointed out above, it was a sort of verbal game several centuries ago. Only the most-often-used ones have come down to us. I love games like this and many of the above posts have done a brilliant job of characterizing a group of mice. As one who has handled tame mice, I might add a velvet of mice. nah, not really that good. oh well. David |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: reggie miles Date: 16 Jan 03 - 05:34 PM A squirm of worms ~~~~~~ |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: Nerd Date: 17 Jan 03 - 12:04 PM Ones I've heard: A jam of tarts A controversy of pipers How about a google of websites? By the way, James Lipton, whom some Americans will know as the TV host of the interview show "Inside the Actors' Studio," published a book of these entitled (I think) An Exultation of Larks. |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: mack/misophist Date: 17 Jan 03 - 12:34 PM "An Exhaltation of Larks" is a great book on the subject. It says that most of there words stem from the medieval passion for hunting. Re: prostitutes: 'a pride of loins', a flourish of strumpets' How could MMario have missed that although geese on the ground are a gaggle, in the air, they're a skein. |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: Schantieman Date: 17 Jan 03 - 12:35 PM ...and then of course there's the collective noun for headmasters.... a lack of principals! |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: JennyO Date: 17 Jan 03 - 01:23 PM A screech of sopranos A cacophany of crows A battering of bodhrans |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: Geoff the Duck Date: 17 Jan 03 - 01:36 PM I maintain that anything more than a pair of mice is an Infestation! Quack! Geoff the Duck! |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: JennyO Date: 17 Jan 03 - 01:45 PM A deafening of drums |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: Geoff the Duck Date: 17 Jan 03 - 01:47 PM I have also over the years lost many points at league quizzes because I maintain that 99% of collective nouns for animal groups have been made up simply to provide quiz questions. The one which particularly annoyed me was being asked for the collective for a group of cheetas. I accept that lions gather as a pride, but cheetas and leopards are solitary hunters and do not hang around in gangs. There are a few I accept as legitimate and fair game, but in most cases I go for a PACK..... Geoff! |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: Genie Date: 17 Jan 03 - 02:57 PM a tootle of flutists (fluthers) a pile of rugby players or an outpurring of cats a waggle of dogs |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: stevetheORC Date: 17 Jan 03 - 03:36 PM Whole Meees = Dinner, Or Stew if Diced Meees's are used Mix with oranges for Marmamees. Orc |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 17 Jan 03 - 06:14 PM A drag of smokers |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: GUEST Date: 17 Jan 03 - 06:21 PM mices!!!! |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: Snuffy Date: 17 Jan 03 - 06:30 PM A refrain (please!) of folksingers |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 17 Jan 03 - 06:55 PM Mices? No, it was "meeces" for Mr Jinx, referring to Pixie and Dixie. "I hate you meeces to pieces". Click here and put "Jinx" in the your browser's Find facility, or scroll down to the appropriate part of the page and there's a link to a film clip of them. I hadn't thought of Mr Jinx for years, but the term "meeces" stuck somehow. Great to see him again. |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: banjomad (inactive) Date: 17 Jan 03 - 09:47 PM Eric. |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: mousethief Date: 17 Jan 03 - 10:26 PM We come in scampers. Alex |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: mousethief Date: 17 Jan 03 - 10:27 PM Also a nibble of mice. A leap of lemmings? Alex |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: EBarnacle1 Date: 18 Jan 03 - 09:24 AM A squeeze of free reeders. |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: Den Date: 18 Jan 03 - 10:45 AM A rash of hookers. A clutch of perverts. A circle of jerks. |
Subject: RE: Collective name for a group of Mice From: GUEST,Cluin Date: 18 Jan 03 - 11:38 AM An ego of fiddlers. A wallup of bodhrans. ;) |
Subject: RE: BS: Collective name for a group of Mice From: reggie miles Date: 19 Jan 03 - 10:57 AM a seen of saws a see of saws a cut of saws a rip of saws a band of saws a table of saws a chain of saws screech of saws, a warble of saws or a hack of saws (of those who play music with the unwieldy blade and depending upon how well you do it) |
Subject: RE: BS: Collective name for a group of Mice From: Miken Date: 19 Jan 03 - 12:39 PM a bottle of genies |
Subject: RE: BS: Collective name for a group of Mice From: Rara Avis Date: 19 Jan 03 - 05:50 PM A camp of transvestites A clutch of transmission repairmen A pride of expectant fathers A wealth of information A pane of supervisors |
Subject: RE: BS: Collective name for a group of Mice From: Dave the Gnome Date: 20 Jan 03 - 05:41 AM What's the collective name for collective names? DtG |
Subject: RE: BS: Collective name for a group of Mice From: Schantieman Date: 20 Jan 03 - 08:59 AM A collection? S |
Subject: RE: BS: Collective name for a group of Mice From: HuwG Date: 20 Jan 03 - 09:30 AM A dose of crabs ? Sorry... |
Subject: RE: BS: Collective name for a group of Mice From: EBarnacle1 Date: 20 Jan 03 - 11:09 AM A shout of children |
Subject: RE: BS: Collective name for a group of Mice From: GUEST,Geordie Date: 20 Jan 03 - 01:01 PM A surge of suits |
Subject: RE: BS: Collective name for a group of Mice From: Schantieman Date: 20 Jan 03 - 01:45 PM ..or a serge, maybe? |
Subject: RE: BS: Collective name for a group of Mice From: Ebbie Date: 20 Jan 03 - 09:22 PM A flutter of angels? |
Subject: RE: BS: Collective name for a group of Mice From: GUEST,d_hand Date: 21 Jan 03 - 07:43 AM Thank you all |
Subject: RE: BS: Collective name for a group of Mice From: Cluin Date: 21 Jan 03 - 01:49 PM An impending garage sale of useless information. |
Subject: RE: BS: Collective name for a group of Mice From: Genie Date: 21 Jan 03 - 04:20 PM A plectrum of pickers (Hey, Miken, don't put me back in that bottle!) Genie |
Subject: RE: BS: Collective name for a group of Mice From: Amos Date: 21 Jan 03 - 07:02 PM A plurality of collective nouns, I think.... A korzybski of misunderstandings.... A giggle of witticisms... A frock of hand-me-downs... A gurgle of dirty dishes.... A crest of toothbrushes.... and a woof of BS threads!! A |
Subject: RE: BS: Collective name for a group of Mice From: Bill D Date: 22 Jan 03 - 11:08 AM a creep of threads! a smattering of ideas. |
Subject: RE: BS: Collective name for a group of Mice From: *daylia* Date: 22 Jan 03 - 12:46 PM I always used "meece" for a group of MOOSE! When driving in Northern Ontario you always have to keep a lookout for those long-leggedey huge hornedy dry-tonguedy Meecies crossing the highways to get to a drink at night ... And something I always wondered about was if one 'louse' becomes two 'lice', and one 'mouse' becomes two 'mice', how come one 'house' doesn't become two 'hice'? Hmmmmmmm??? daylia |
Subject: RE: BS: Collective name for a group of Mice From: Bill D Date: 22 Jan 03 - 08:50 PM Dear Sirs, Please send me two ...please send me a Mongoose. P.S.....please send me another one. |
Subject: RE: BS: Collective name for a group of Mice From: Amos Date: 22 Jan 03 - 09:20 PM LOL!! A |
Subject: RE: BS: Collective name for a group of Mice From: GUEST,funky dave Date: 24 Jan 03 - 02:24 PM ...a lot of replies. |