Question: What is the collective noun for a group of geese on the ground?
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A gaggle.
The collective noun for a group of geese depends on their activity and location. When geese are on the ground, the collective term used to describe them is a “gaggle.” This term is derived from the Middle English word “gagel,” which means to cackle, likely due to the noise that a group of geese make when they are together. A gaggle typically refers to a group of at least five geese.
However, it’s important to note that when geese are in flight, they are referred to differently. If they fly in a V formation, they are called a “skein.” If they are not flying in a V formation, they are referred to as a “flock” or a “team.”
These distinctive terms are part of a rich tradition in the English language of using specific collective nouns for different types of animals, a tradition that often reflects unique aspects of animal behavior and contributes to the descriptive power of the language.
