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Who Collects What? Trivia Quiz

Many collectibles have special words for the collectors! Here are some common ones to test you (and some rare ones as well). Many of these terms are well over a century old, and it was interesting tracking down some of the etymologies.

A multiple-choice quiz by collect. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
collect

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
240,650

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
1314

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What does a numismatist collect? Hint

Rocks

Coins

Numismadon fossils

Crepe paper

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Question 2 of 10

2. What does a philatelist collect? Hint

Dead things

Coins

Stamps

Phils

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Question 3 of 10

3. What does a deltiologist collect? Hint

Postcards

Silt

Triangular shaped objects

New Orleans memorabilia

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Question 4 of 10

4. What is a vexillologist interested in? Hint

Improper words

Difficult knots

Angry speeches

Flags

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Question 5 of 10

5. What does a paramiographer look out for?
Hint

Proverbs

Forged Letters

Crutches

Broken Bones

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Question 6 of 10

6. What do you think an arctophilist would collect? Hint

Teddy Bears

Refrigerators

Pictures of Icebergs

Pictures of Circles

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Question 7 of 10

7. Can you figure out what a bestiarist collects? Hint

Bestiaries

Ideal Examples

Stuffed Animals

Models of Farms

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Question 8 of 10

8. What do you think a plangonologist collects? Hint

Wooden Planks

Dolls

Blueprints

Plangos (a Japanese Game Machine)

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Question 9 of 10

9. Now an easy one -- what does a discophile like? Hint

Frisbees

Hatred

Pictures of John Travolta

Phonograph Records

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Question 10 of 10

10. I never met a heortologist -- but if I met one, what would he collect? Hint

Norse Eddas

Heart Valves

Religious Calendars

Vintage Wines

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Most Recent Scores

Oct 29 2024 : teveenutt: 7/10
Oct 28 2024 : SixShutouts66: 7/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What does a numismatist collect?

Answer: Coins

"Numismatist" comes from the Late Latin word for "coin" -- "numisma." Most Latin dictionaries don't even have this word. The OED first finds it in print in 1799.

2. What does a philatelist collect?

Answer: Stamps

"Philately" comes from Greek words meaning, very roughly, "love of tax-free things." Postage stamps prepay the postage charges. Another word you may find is "timbrologist" which did not catch on as well. The OED dates "philatelist" back to 1865.

3. What does a deltiologist collect?

Answer: Postcards

"Deltiologist" derives from the Greek word "deltion" or "writing tablet," thus a postcard. The Concise Oxford English Dictionary places this word at the mid-20th century.

4. What is a vexillologist interested in?

Answer: Flags

"Vexillum" is the Latin word for "flag." Interestingly enough, in Ornithology it also refers to the vane of a bird's feather! The Concise Oxford English Dictionary traces this word to the mid-20th century.

5. What does a paramiographer look out for?

Answer: Proverbs

"Paramiographer" (also "paroemiographer") comes from the Greek for "written proverbs." Rather an interesting hobby! This spelling is courtesy of Webster's Unabridged from MICRA, Inc.

6. What do you think an arctophilist would collect?

Answer: Teddy Bears

Actually, I can not imagine collecting refrigerators -- an "arctophilist" collects teddy bears! From the Greek again - "arktos" means "bear." I suppose it could also apply to collecting real bears ... it dates to the early 20th century in the Concise Oxford English Dictionary, or about the time "teddy bears" were invented!

7. Can you figure out what a bestiarist collects?

Answer: Bestiaries

Bestiaries were popular books in the Middle Ages, generally showing real animals and wondrous mythical animals, like the unicorn. "Bestiary" is dated to 1834 in the OED, which makes this one of the older terms.

8. What do you think a plangonologist collects?

Answer: Dolls

In ancient Greek theater, women were not allowed to perform any roles. A wax doll "plaggon" was used in their stead. The "double gamma" has an "ng" sound, so the word became "plangon." Another word which has the same change is "aggelos" which is "angel" in English. Now as to when "plangonologist" was first used -- it has not made the OED yet, which means it is not found in any editions of the London Times at all. Still, it is defined as "doll collector" on over a hundred sites now.

9. Now an easy one -- what does a discophile like?

Answer: Phonograph Records

Discophiles like phonograph records -- especially old or rare ones. The Random House Dictionary dates it back to 1935, long before "compact disks"!

10. I never met a heortologist -- but if I met one, what would he collect?

Answer: Religious Calendars

"Heorte" is the Greek word for "festival" making a "heortologist" a person who collects calendars of festivals, especially religious calendars. The Concise OED places this word back to the early 20th century.

Source: Author collect

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Bruyere before going online.
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