diff --git a/dat/opthelp b/dat/opthelp
index f059ddabc..31a216c3f 100644
--- a/dat/opthelp
+++ b/dat/opthelp
@@ -118,6 +118,9 @@ pickup_burden when you pick up an item that exceeds this encumberance
               or overLoaded), you will be asked if you want to continue. [S]
 pickup_types  a list of default symbols for kinds of objects to autopickup
               when that option is on  [all]
+pile_limit    for feedback when walking across floor objects, threshold at
+              which "there are many objects here" is displayed instead of
+              listing the objects.  (0 means "always list objects.")  [5]
 runmode       controls how often the map window is updated when performing
               multi-step movement (various running modes or travel command):
               teleport -- don't update map until movement stops;
diff --git a/doc/Guidebook.mn b/doc/Guidebook.mn
index 184a5e5b6..f57a04298 100644
--- a/doc/Guidebook.mn
+++ b/doc/Guidebook.mn
@@ -1983,6 +1983,13 @@ compile time option AUTOPICKUP_EXCEPTIONS included, you may be able to use
 configuration file lines to further refine
 .op autopickup
 behavior.
+.lp pile_limit
+When walking across a pile of objects on the floor, threshold at which
+the message "there are few/several/many objects here" is given instead
+of showing a popup list of those objects.  A value of 0 means "no limit"
+(always list the objects); a value of 1 effectively means "never show
+the objects" since the pile size will always be at least that big;
+default value is 5.
 .lp playmode
 Values are `normal', `explore', or `debug'.
 Allows selection of explore mode (also known as discovery mode) or debug
diff --git a/doc/Guidebook.tex b/doc/Guidebook.tex
index ba103e8b0..77728b772 100644
--- a/doc/Guidebook.tex
+++ b/doc/Guidebook.tex
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@
 \begin{document}
 %
 % input file: guidebook.mn
-% $Revision: 1.103 $ $Date: 2007/02/15 05:22:32 $
+% $Revision: 1.104 $ $Date: 2007/02/18 04:49:19 $
 %
 %.ds h0 "
 %.ds h1 %.ds h2 \%
@@ -2457,6 +2457,14 @@ compile time option AUTOPICKUP\_EXCEPTIONS included,
 you may be able to use ``{\it autopickup\_exception\/}'' configuration
 file lines to further refine ``{\it autopickup\/}'' behavior.
 %.lp
+\item[\ib{pile\_limit}]
+When walking across a pile of objects on the floor, threshold at which
+the message ``there are few/several/many objects here'' is given instead
+of showing a popup list of those objects.  A value of 0 means ``no limit''
+(always list the objects); a value of 1 effectively means ``never show
+the objects'' since the pile size will always be at least that big;
+default value is 5.
+%.lp
 \item[\ib{playmode}]
 Values are {\it normal\/}, {\it explore\/}, or {\it debug\/}.
 Allows selection of explore mode (also known as discovery mode) or debug
diff --git a/doc/fixes35.0 b/doc/fixes35.0
index 73e810599..45c359d4d 100644
--- a/doc/fixes35.0
+++ b/doc/fixes35.0
@@ -323,6 +323,8 @@ player can give a monster class when asked for type of monster to poly into
 likewise when asked about type for #monpolycontrol
 scroll of taming/spell of charm monster now gives some feedback
 doppelgangers can take on the shape of alternate roles' quest guardians
+pile_limit option to control when to switch to "there are objects here"
+	vs listing objects on floor when hero goes over objects while moving
 
 
 Platform- and/or Interface-Specific New Features
diff --git a/include/flag.h b/include/flag.h
index 76fc0c5ce..c4acdad4e 100644
--- a/include/flag.h
+++ b/include/flag.h
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/*	SCCS Id: @(#)flag.h	3.5	2007/02/16	*/
+/*	SCCS Id: @(#)flag.h	3.5	2007/04/26	*/
 /* Copyright (c) Stichting Mathematisch Centrum, Amsterdam, 1985. */
 /* NetHack may be freely redistributed.  See license for details. */
 
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ struct flag {
 #define NEW_MOON	0
 #define FULL_MOON	4
 	int	 pickup_burden;		/* maximum burden before prompt */
+	int	 pile_limit; /* controls feedback when walking over objects */
 	char	 inv_order[MAXOCLASSES];
 	char	 pickup_types[MAXOCLASSES];
 #define NUM_DISCLOSURE_OPTIONS		5
diff --git a/include/patchlevel.h b/include/patchlevel.h
index 2b969c2b2..4a5d84f3c 100644
--- a/include/patchlevel.h
+++ b/include/patchlevel.h
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
  * Incrementing EDITLEVEL can be used to force invalidation of old bones
  * and save files.
  */
-#define EDITLEVEL	38
+#define EDITLEVEL	39
 
 #define COPYRIGHT_BANNER_A \
 "NetHack, Copyright 1985-2007"
diff --git a/src/invent.c b/src/invent.c
index d79cc37b1..a34c7445a 100644
--- a/src/invent.c
+++ b/src/invent.c
@@ -2336,7 +2336,7 @@ char *buf;
 	return dfeature;
 }
 
-/* look at what is here; if there are many objects (5 or more),
+/* look at what is here; if there are many objects (pile_limit or more),
    don't show them unless obj_cnt is 0 */
 int
 look_here(obj_cnt, picked_some)
@@ -2349,8 +2349,11 @@ boolean picked_some;
 	const char *dfeature = (char *)0;
 	char fbuf[BUFSZ], fbuf2[BUFSZ];
 	winid tmpwin;
-	boolean skip_objects = (obj_cnt >= 5), felt_cockatrice = FALSE;
+	boolean skip_objects, felt_cockatrice = FALSE;
 
+	/* default pile_limit is 5; a value of 0 means "never skip"
+	   (and 1 effectively forces "always skip") */
+	skip_objects = (flags.pile_limit > 0 && obj_cnt >= flags.pile_limit);
 	if (u.uswallow && u.ustuck) {
 	    struct monst *mtmp = u.ustuck;
 	    Sprintf(fbuf, "Contents of %s %s",
@@ -2420,12 +2423,18 @@ boolean picked_some;
 	if (skip_objects) {
 	    if (dfeature) pline(fbuf);
 	    read_engr_at(u.ux, u.uy); /* Eric Backus */
-	    There("are %s%s objects here.",
-		  (obj_cnt <= 10) ? "several" : "many",
-		  picked_some ? " more" : "");
+	    if (obj_cnt == 1 && otmp->quan == 1L)
+		There("is %s object here.", picked_some ? "another" : "an");
+	    else
+		There("are %s%s objects here.",
+		      (obj_cnt < 5) ? "a few" :
+			(obj_cnt < 10) ? "several" : "many",
+		      picked_some ? " more" : "");
 	    for ( ; otmp; otmp = otmp->nexthere)
 		if (otmp->otyp == CORPSE && will_feel_cockatrice(otmp, FALSE)) {
-		    pline("Including %s%s.",
+		    pline("%s %s%s.",
+			  (obj_cnt > 1) ? "Including" :
+			    (otmp->quan > 1L) ? "They're" : "It's",
 			  corpse_xname(otmp, (const char *)0, CXN_ARTICLE),
 			  poly_when_stoned(youmonst.data) ? "" :
 			    ", unfortunately");
@@ -2442,20 +2451,22 @@ boolean picked_some;
 	    You("%s here %s.", verb, doname(otmp));
 	    if (otmp->otyp == CORPSE) feel_cockatrice(otmp, FALSE);
 	} else {
+	    char buf[BUFSZ];
+
 	    display_nhwindow(WIN_MESSAGE, FALSE);
 	    tmpwin = create_nhwindow(NHW_MENU);
 	    if(dfeature) {
 		putstr(tmpwin, 0, fbuf);
 		putstr(tmpwin, 0, "");
 	    }
-	    putstr(tmpwin, 0, Blind ? "Things that you feel here:" :
-				      "Things that are here:");
+	    Sprintf(buf, "%s that %s here:",
+		    picked_some ? "Other things" : "Things",
+		    Blind ? "you feel" : "are");
+	    putstr(tmpwin, 0, buf);
 	    for ( ; otmp; otmp = otmp->nexthere) {
 		if (otmp->otyp == CORPSE && will_feel_cockatrice(otmp, FALSE)) {
-			char buf[BUFSZ];
 			felt_cockatrice = TRUE;
-			Strcpy(buf, doname(otmp));
-			Strcat(buf, "...");
+			Sprintf(buf, "%s...", doname(otmp));
 			putstr(tmpwin, 0, buf);
 			break;
 		}
diff --git a/src/options.c b/src/options.c
index 176a19f58..06d71ff08 100644
--- a/src/options.c
+++ b/src/options.c
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/*	SCCS Id: @(#)options.c	3.5	2007/02/14	*/
+/*	SCCS Id: @(#)options.c	3.5	2007/04/26	*/
 /* Copyright (c) Stichting Mathematisch Centrum, Amsterdam, 1985. */
 /* NetHack may be freely redistributed.  See license for details. */
 
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@ NEARDATA struct instance_flags iflags;	/* provide linkage */
 #define MENU_OPTION	4
 #define TEXT_OPTION	5
 
+#define PILE_LIMIT_DFLT 5
+
 /*
  *  NOTE:  If you add (or delete) an option, please update the short
  *  options help (option_help()), the long options help (dat/opthelp),
@@ -320,6 +322,8 @@ static struct Comp_Opt
 						20, SET_IN_GAME },
 	{ "pickup_types", "types of objects to pick up automatically",
 						MAXOCLASSES, SET_IN_GAME },
+	{ "pile_limit", "threshold for \"there are many objects here\"",
+						24, SET_IN_GAME },
 	{ "playmode",
 #ifdef WIZARD
 		      "normal play, non-scoring explore mode, or debug mode",
@@ -588,6 +592,7 @@ initoptions()
 	flags.end_own = FALSE;
 	flags.end_top = 3;
 	flags.end_around = 2;
+	flags.pile_limit = PILE_LIMIT_DFLT;	/* 5 */
 	flags.runmode = RUN_LEAP;
 	iflags.msg_history = 20;
 #ifdef TTY_GRAPHICS
@@ -1845,6 +1850,23 @@ goodfruit:
 		return;
 	}
 
+	/* pile limit: when walking over objects, number which triggers
+	   "there are several/many objects here" instead of listing them */
+	fullname = "pile_limit";
+	if (match_optname(opts, fullname, 4, TRUE)) {
+	    if (duplicate) complain_about_duplicate(opts, 1);
+	    op = string_for_opt(opts, negated);
+	    if ((negated && !op) || (!negated && op))
+		flags.pile_limit = negated ? 0 : atoi(op);
+	    else if (negated)
+		bad_negation(fullname, TRUE);
+	    else /* !op */
+		flags.pile_limit = PILE_LIMIT_DFLT;
+	    /* sanity check */
+	    if (flags.pile_limit < 0) flags.pile_limit = PILE_LIMIT_DFLT;
+	    return;
+	}
+
 	/* play mode: normal, explore/discovery, or debug/wizard */
 	fullname = "playmode";
 	if (match_optname(opts, fullname, 4, TRUE)) {
@@ -3573,6 +3595,8 @@ char *buf;
 		oc_to_str(flags.pickup_types, ocl);
 		Sprintf(buf, "%s", ocl[0] ? ocl : "all" );
 	}
+	else if (!strcmp(optname, "pile_limit"))
+		Sprintf(buf, "%d", flags.pile_limit);
 	else if (!strcmp(optname, "playmode")) {
 		Strcpy(buf,
 		       wizard ? "debug" : discover ? "explore" : "normal");