Attempted Murder

[NewJeffCT]

Saw this on FB and thought it was funny.

[MiddleFingerMom]

1. That IS hilarious!!! I wonder how many will get it? I might not've if I saw it on its own. n/t

[TorchTheWitch]

2. I feel really stupid but I don't get it

Someone posted this same photo I think yesterday and I still don't get it. What am I missing? I feel like it should be obvious and I just can't see it.

[WolverineDG]

4. *spoiler*

the term for a flock of crows is "murder."

dunno why. just is.

dg

[RebelOne]

5. Never heard that before, but there only 2 crows in the photo.

and not a flock. So, where does the term "murder" apply?

[Duer 157099]

6. That's the "attempted" part

I think

[WolverineDG]

11. hence the use of the word "attempted"

I don't know how or why a bunch of crows is called a "murder." I've rarely heard the term myself. :)

dg

[NewJeffCT]

15. I found this with some digging

Dated almost 10 years ago...


I was looking for the origin of the term "murder of crows" when I found a discussion on a word origin forum covering just that topic.

Apparently, the use of murder to mean a group of crows is poetic but not scientific. The reference isn't noted in the OED. But it is noted in An Exaltation of Larks by James Lipton. So are the following uses of collective nouns, many of which have been in use for many years by hunters, fishermen and other common (non-biologist) folks:

A covey of partridges
A rafter of turkeys
A brood of hens
A fall of woodcocks
A dule of doves
A wedge of swans
A party of jays


http://www.field-notes.net/2002_11_17_archives.html

[NewJeffCT]

16. and this as well from PBS

A group of crows is called a "murder." This name came about because a group of crows will sometimes kill a dying crow.


http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/critters/crow.html

[WolverineDG]

24. I've heard of coveys & broods before, but not the rest

interesting! Thanks!

dg

[WolverineDG]

12. hence the use of the word "attempted"

I don't know how or why a bunch of crows is called a "murder." I've rarely heard the term myself. :)

dg

[graywarrior]

14. According to PBS, a group of crows will kill a dying crow

Crows have regional dialects, too. Never piss off a crow, they'll remember you through many crow generations.

[applegrove]

18. Some think they got the flock name "murder" because crows used

to line up when the old battles would take place in Europe. The birds were smart enough to know that there would soon be a lot of free dead human flesh available in the coming hours and days.

[Liberal_in_LA]

19. thanks. I had no idea. joke for the few who knew this.

[madinmaryland]

7. I hadn't heard of the phrase, either. Doesn't make much sense to me why they are

called that.

:shrug:

[seabeyond]

8. i felt the same as you. and now that i know the answer, still....

not too impressed. laughing more at how we all are reacting, lol

[MrsBrady]

10. let me google that for you

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=murder+of+crows

[MiddleFingerMom]

17. You just made my day with this resource!!! Thanks!!! n/t

[MrsBrady]

23. you're welcome.

;)

[City of Mills]

3. LOL that's awesome

Got it :)

[Iggo]

9. FUCKING HILARIOUS!!!

:rofl:

[Little Star]

13. Even in the lounge I can learn something new!! n/t

[Ptah]

20. The movie was the BOMB!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Murder_of_Crows_%28film%29

[Odin2005]

21. It took me forever to get that one.

:rofl:

[dimbear]

22. Tried, found guilty, and sentenced to a term of venery. n/t