A collective noun (or collective name) is a name which denotes or represents a number of individual items. For example, a number of sheep together is known as a 'flock'. The word 'flock' is the collective noun for a number of sheep. Some items have multiple collective nouns, for example a collection of goats can be known as a 'herd', a 'tribe' or a 'trip'.
Ambush is the collective noun for a group of tigers.
Army is the collective noun for a group of frogs, ants,
Array is the collective noun for a group of hedgehogs.
Badelynge is the collective noun for a group of ducks on the ground.
Bale is the collective noun for a group of turtles.
Barren is the collective noun for a group of mules.
Basket is the collective noun for a group of plums.
Battery is the collective noun for a group of barracuda.
Bazaar is the collective noun for a group of guillemots.
Bed is the collective noun for a group of clams.
Bench is the collective noun for a group of bishops, magistrates.
Bevy is the collective noun for a group of quail, roes, swans, pheasants, ladies.
Brace is the collective noun for a group of bucks.
Brood is the collective noun for a group of chickens.
Building is the collective noun for a group of rooks.
Bunch is the collective noun for a group of grapes, flowers.
Bundle is the collective noun for a group of asparagus.
Business is the collective noun for a group of ferrets.
Caravan is the collective noun for a group of camels.
Cast is the collective noun for a group of hawks, falcons.
Cete is the collective noun for a group of badgers.
Charm is the collective noun for a group of goldfinches.
Chatter is the collective noun for a group of budgerigars.
Chattering is the collective noun for a group of choughs.
Chine is the collective noun for a group of polecats.
Clamour is the collective noun for a group of rooks.
Clous is the collective noun for a group of gnats.
Clowder is the collective noun for a group of cats.
Clump is the collective noun for a group of trees.
Cluster is the collective noun for a group of grapes, spiders.
Clutch is the collective noun for a group of eggs.
Clutter is the collective noun for a group of spiders.
Colony is the collective noun for a group of gulls, frogs, penguins, ants, beavers.
Company is the collective noun for a group of widgeon, parrots.
Congregation is the collective noun for a group of plovers.
Convocation is the collective noun for a group of eagles.
Covert is the collective noun for a group of coots.
Covey is the collective noun for a group of partridges, grouse.
Crash is the collective noun for a group of rhinoceros.
Gilding is the art of applying gold-leaf or gold in a finely-divided state to surfaces of wood, stone, or metals. It is a very ancient art, being practised among the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, and Ancient Persians. The processes employed through more modern times have been very varied. Metals are gilded either by what is called chemical gilding, mercurial gilding, by electro-gilding (electro-plating), or by the application of gold-leaf. Copper and brass, for instance, may be gilded by the process called wash or water gilding, with an amalgam of gold and mercury. The surface of the copper, freed from oxide, is covered with the amalgam, and afterwards exposed to heat until the mercury is driven off, leaving a thin coat of gold.
Gilding is also performed by dipping a linen rag in a saturated solution of gold, and burning it to tinder, the black powder thus obtained being rubbed on the metal to be gilded, with a cork dipped in salt water, until the gilding appears. Iron or steel is often gilded by applying gold-leaf, after the surface has been well cleaned, and heated until it has acquired the blue colour which at a certain temperature it assumes. Several leaves of gold are thus applied in succession, and the last is burnished down cold.
One process of chemical gilding was by dipping the article into a solution of gold, what is termed Elkington's solution being composed as follows: 5 oz. (troy) of fine gold; nitro-muriatic acid, 52 oz. (avoirdupois); dissolve by heat, and continue the heat until the cessation of red or yellow vapours; decant the clear liquid; add 4 gallons of distilled water, 20 lbs of pure bicarbonate of potassa and boiling for two hours.
Gilding on wood, plaster, leather, parchment, or paper, is performed by different processes of mechanical gilding. The first of these is oil-gilding, in which gold-leaf is cemented to the work by means of oil-size. In the case of paper or vellum the parts to be gilt receive a coat of gum-water or fine size, and the gold-leaf is applied before the parts are dry. They are afterwards burnished with agate. Lettering and other gilding on bound books are applied without size. The gold-leaf is laid on the leather and imprinted with hot brass types. Brass rollers with thin edges are employed in the same way for lines, and similar tools for other ornaments. When the edges of the leaves of books are to be gilt they are first cut smooth in the press, after which a solution of isinglass in spirits is laid on, and the gold-leaf is applied when the edges are in a proper state of dryness.
Japanner's gilding is another kind of mechanical gilding, which is performed in the same way as oil-gilding, except that instead of gold-leaf a gold dust or powder is employed. Frames of pictures and mirrors, mouldings, etc, are gilt by the application of gold-leaf, or by the cheaper process of 'German gilding,' that is, by tin-foil or silver-leaf, with a yellow varnish above.
Porcelain and other kinds of earthenware, as well as glass, may be gilt by fixing a layer of gold in a powdered state by the action of fire. The gold-dust or powder required in this operation may be obtained by precipitating it from a solution in aqua regia, either by means of iron sulphate or proto-nitrate of mercury. In order that the gold powder may be applied to the surface of the article to be gilt it must be well mixed with some viscous vehicle, such as strongly-gummed water. It is then laid on with a fine camel's-hair brush. Research Gilding
Sparrow is a popular name for a genus of finches, of which the best known is the house sparrow (Passer domesticus). The house sparrow is a small, black-streaked brown finch found across the world, though once very common during the later part of the 20th century the sparrows declined rapidly for reasons unknown.
The house sparrow builds a bulky, untidy nest of whatever materials are available, such as hay, straw, roots, rag, string, bits of paper, but it is always lined with soft feathers. The eggs are white in colour with a blue or green tinge and variously streaked or spotted with brown or purple. The house sparrow eats insects. House sparrows have been seen carrying a young offspring on their back, though this behaviour is very rarely witnessed, and the reason for it is unknown.
The tree sparrow (Passer montanus) is slightly smaller than the house sparrow, has brown plumage and a white collar around the throat and two white bars on the tail. The tree sparrow nests in hollow trees, under the thatch of old buildings and in holes in rocks. Research Sparrow
In medicine, a poultice is a soft moist application applied externally to some part of the body either hot or cold, but generally hot. The simple poultice is made with linseed meal and boiling water, spread out with a uniform thickness on a cloth or rag, and is used where it is desired to hasten the progress of inflammation. Its moisture causes relaxation of the skin, and thereby lessens the discomfort or pain. It also acts as a counter-irritant, producing a redness and congestion of the skin. Research Poultice
The two-step is an American dance. It forms a modified polka, adapted to American rag-time music, and was introduced into Europe at the end of the 19th century. There are many variations such as the Boston two-step and the Military two-step. Research Two-Step
Abbreviations
Research Collective Noun
