Flockings

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A mass of birds or animals gathered closely together in flight or a group; a covering made of loose fibers piled on a surface for decorative or functional purposes; a gathering of people with a shared interest or belief, often congregating in a specific location or for a particular purpose
2. A collection of creatures moving as a unit or grouped together; a textile technique involving the application of fibers for aesthetic appeal or texture; an assembly of individuals united by common goals or activities in a shared environment
3. A congregation of flying wildlife or herded animals functioning in unison; an ornamental or functional layer of material applied for decoration; a community of like-minded individuals coming together for discussions or activities related to their shared interests

Etymology: "Flockings" is the plural of "flocking," so its history is essentially the history of the noun "flock" plus the suffix "-ing," which in this use turns an action into a thing: the flocking of birds, or the act of gathering together, becomes a material or a group in its own right. The plural form lets the word name several such layers or gatherings at once, as in decorative trimmings or separate communities of enthusiasts. The ornamental sense is the most unexpected. A "flock" was originally a lock of wool or a tuft of fibre, and "flocking" came to mean the fine fibres, often wool or cotton waste, pressed onto a surface to create a velvety pattern on wallpaper or fabric. The bird and animal sense grew from the older idea of a crowd or band, while the sense of a community of like-minded people is a looser extension of the same notion of gathering together.

Synonyms: gatherings, assemblies, groups, crowds, clusters

Antonyms: dispersals, scatterings, isolations, separations, diffusions