15 April 2014

Mega-gaggle


Gaggle is a term of venery for geese not in flight.  The term is also used to refer to the White House Press Corps:
"Gaggles" historically refer to informal briefings the press secretary conducts with the press pool rather than the entire press corps....they were more or less off the record, and their purpose was mostly to exchange information... The nickname could stem from the idea that these more freewheeling press sessions, where the talk is much more rapid and free-form, are like a "gaggle of geese" honking.
The etymology is apparently onomatopoeic.

Video via Neatorama.

2 comments:

  1. Venereal? Vernacular?

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    1. I made the same mistake back in 2008 -

      http://tywkiwdbi.blogspot.com/2008/05/venereal-words.html

      Rewritten as "term of venery." Tx for the heads-up.

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