Yes, seeing all those whelks made me kinda hungry. Truth to be told, just about anything makes me hungry. And it got me thinking about the Cayman Islands, where one of the local specialties is a spicy whelk stew. We could have had ourselves a feast. But these particular whelks were protected since they live along the Cumberland Island National Seashore, and despite being sorely tempted, I did not poach. Promise.
But it got me thinking: We have all sorts of collective nouns that describe groups of things—a pod of whales, a congress of ravens, a murder of crows, and, famously, an exaltation of larks—but what do we call a mass collection of whelks?
Which is to say: I'm open for suggestions. And if someone posts a brilliant one here, then I'll give you something cool and as-yet-undetermined as a reward. Maybe a book. Maybe a whelk. Maybe my recipe for whelk stew.
8 comments:
Obviously, you are not as familar with the metric system as you should be. A gazillion whelks equals one elk.
Bob -- How about a walloping of whelks? You're welcome and I'll be happy to collect my prize.
A whelkcome of whelks.
Do I win?
A molestation of whelks. Because that's what you are doing by picking up live shells, Bob. You should know better....
How about "a Lawrence" of Whelks
A banquet of whelks?
Having a copy here at the house of the book "An Exaltation of Larks" by the esteemed professor of Inside the Actors Studio,which he wrote in his 20s I think, I am moved to comment on your question, but the other suggestions here are better than mine! So my sandspit of whelks will probably not win....
Anonymous -- We're already awarded a prize for this one -- a Lawrence of Whelks, first submitted by Dave Wisor on my Facebook page -- but thanks for the most whelkcome entry.
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