fluther of jellyfish

[prettygoodword]

fluther - n., a swarm of jellyfish.


I suspect this one of being coined, but it's multiply attested so I'm going with it. Besides, it's the right word for it.

ETA: Possibly relevant, "fluthered" is supposedly Scots slang for "drunk."

---L.

Comments

fluther, et. al...

[flw.livejournal.com]

all words are coined or made up at some time :)

what I meant by "made up" yesterday was that some of these collective nouns seem like they arose from a bunch of people sitting around coming up with collective nouns (as a game or something), rather than arising organically out of need. Did someone at some point really think, "I need a word, quickly, to describe a swarm of jellyfish, and only a swarm of jellyfish. 'Hey, there's a swarm of jellyfish!' is too clumsy. I need a single unique identifier."

Probably not. But then again, maybe!

say no more!

[flw.livejournal.com]

"What's that?" asked the bowpsrit?

"a fluther," answered the mizzen-man.

Moments later...

"Whew! That was close. If you had taken the time to say 'a swarm of jellyfish,' we'd'ave been lost! Thank the heavens we have a collective noun for that grouping of animals. It saves time, and makes our lives easier!" said the bowsprit, mop in hand.

"Indeed, it does," agreed the mizzen-man.

[Note, nautical terms for sailors jobs made up]

more lives lost!

[flw.livejournal.com]

"Ahoy lad, there be a fluther!" yelled the Gold-Earring-ed Pirate.

"What's a flu..." The lad is swept away.

"Yar... another life lost," lamented the Gold-Earring-ed Pirate, "to a lack of knowledge of collective nouns."

[janni.livejournal.com]

Okay, that one is delightful.

[movingfinger.livejournal.com]

Quintessentially Carrollian, except not. Tasty.