Prompt Cast
The Origins and Evolution of Nouns of Assemblage
TLDR Nouns of assemblage, also known as terms of venery, originated from a 15th-century book called the Book of St. Albans and were mostly meant for animals. Over time, younger people started creating their own nouns of assemblage, reflecting their feelings towards different animals.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
We're talking about nouns of assemblage, like a murder of crows or a hairness of podcasters.
02:04
Nouns of assemblage, also known as terms of venery, originated from a book called the Book of St. Albans in 1486, which was a guide to hunting, dog breeds, and other manly pursuits.
03:56
The Book of St. Albans in 1486 contained a chapter on nouns of assemblage, which were mostly meant for animals but also included some terms for humans.
05:56
Younger people started creating their own nouns of assemblage, similar to a fad of stuffing oneself into phone booths in the 15th century.
08:01
Birds have a variety of nouns of assemblage, such as a murder of crows and an unkindness of ravens, which reflect people's feelings towards them.
09:54
Insects have a few nouns of assemblage, such as a swarm of bees and a business of flies, while baby versions of pets have cute ones like a kindle of kittens and a pittle of puppies, and wild animals have nouns like a pride of lions and a wisdom of wombats.
11:48
Some of the nouns of assemblage make sense, like a business of flies and a business of ferrets, while others, like a gam of whales, seem a little random.
Categories:
Society & Culture
