Wonderful Clouds

Clouds – we all see them. Usually we just ignore them, as they are a part of daily life. Sometimes we have to take notice of them when they warn us about threatening inclement weather.

I suddenly wondered – just what is the collective name for clouds? There are the better-known collectives – a flock of sheep, a shoal of fish, an exultation of larks, a charm of goldfinches. Then there are more exotic and surprising ones – a bloat of hippopotami, an ambush or streak of tigers, a crash of rhinoceri/rhinocerouses/rhinocerous – you take your pick of the plurals! The Sami people, who live in the northern tips of Scandinavia and Russia, use at least 180 words related to snow and ice, according to Ole Henrik Magga, a linguist in Norway. (I quote from an article in The Washington Post.)

So, why do we seem have so few words for clouds? I have found scurry, soufflé, and bank. A cumulation has been suggested. Whatever comes to mind will probably depend on the sky you’re looking at at the time. Looking out of the window as I write, words like dismal, gloomy and driech come quickly to mind, but these are all mere adjectives – not the collectives that I have been searching for. A nuisance, a rainfall, a thunder are all possibilities. A collective noun for a skyful of clouds like today’s doesn’t seem to exist. Or does it?

This last winter we have suffered from far too many driech, dark grey and dismal skies and clouds, which have dropped so much rain. Sunshine and blue skies cheer us up and smiles come out with better weather. Some clouds form shapes that can cheer us up and make us smile. Little white puffy clouds can take on the shape of very unexpected things.

Cloud watching or spotting, while sitting in the garden on a dry or sunny day with a cup of tea or coffee – or maybe something even a little bit stronger, is a recommended activity. A camera by your side is also a good idea.

I found the photos above on the Cloud Appreciation Society’s website. These weren’t taken by me but by other CAS members, I hasten to add. Just look at just what amazing shapes clouds can take.