Flocks of geese at odds with 'leg' gags (7) Crossword Clue
Answer: GAGGLES (7 letters)
The answer to the crossword clue "Flocks of geese at odds with 'leg' gags" with 7 letters is "GAGGLES".Gaggles refers to groups or flocks of geese, especially when they are on the ground or not flying. The term is often used to describe a noisy or disorderly group, and is sometimes used metaphorically to describe a chaotic or talkative crowd.
Why “Gaggles” Fits
The clue asks for a 7-letter plural noun meaning "flocks of geese," with a cryptic hint at 'leg' and 'gags.' The answer, GAGGLES, fits perfectly:
- Flocks of geese: "Gaggles" is the proper collective noun for a group of geese when they are gathered on the ground or water, as opposed to flying (where they’re called a “skein” or “team”).
- Clue structure: The wordplay involves rearranging "leg" with "gags" to build "gaggles," echoing the notion of a playful, disorderly grouping—a secondary meaning for groups of people.
This precise and thematic word makes "gaggles" the perfect solution for the clue.
“Gaggle” is an evocative term from ornithology and language:
- Origin and use: "Gaggle" is a term of venery, historically used for collective animal groups. It is unique to geese on land; for geese in flight, different terms apply.
- Secondary sense: In modern usage, "gaggle" also refers humorously to groups of people acting in a chaotic or noisy way—"a gaggle of children."
- Linguistic fun: The term has appeal for its playful imagery and is a go-to answer for crossword clues about geese groups.
"Gaggles" thus bridges both the clue’s requirements for animal group and cryptic wordplay.
In quick crosswords, clues like “flocks of geese (7)”:
- Target well-known collective nouns—“gaggles,” “herds,” “prides.”
- The answer length (7) fits "gaggles" exactly and matches its plural form for group description.
- Cryptic clues often hide anagrams or composite wordplay (“leg” + “gags” = “gaggles”).
Spotting the zoological context and playful hint leads quickly to “gaggles.”
