By Ann.Warner On Jun 17 2011, 12:01 am

Have you ever wondered why we say a pride of lions or a gaggle of geese?

The answer is they likely had their origin in a word game, named Venery, that was in vogue several hundred years ago.

The rules are simple. First someone suggests a group name (like geese or lions), and then everyone tries to come up with a descriptive noun to form an unexpected word picture.

Here are some I came up with:

A GALA OF DAHLIAS

A BROUHAHA OF BEARS

A HOVER OF GULLS

A BACCHANAL OF BOOBIES

A FLITTER OF ASPENS

A WHIMSY OF WHALE TAILS

 

As well –

A DECANTATE OF WINOS

A VERISIMILITUDE OF TWINS

AN OBFUSCATION OF POLITICIANS

AN INCOHERENCY OF TERRORISTS

What gaggles and prides can you come up with?

Ann Warner is the author of two novels, Dreams for Stones and Persistence of Dreams. Visit Ann at www.AnnWarner.net.

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