bevy

American  

[bev-ee] / ˈbɛv i /

noun

• bevies
  plural

1. a group of birds, as larks or quail, or animals, as roebuck, in close association.

   Synonyms:

   brood, flight, covey

2. a large group or collection.

   a bevy of boisterous sailors.

   Synonyms:

   company, assembly

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bevy British  

/ ˈbɛvɪ /

noun

1. a flock of quails

2. a group, esp of girls

3. a group of roedeer

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• bevies
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of bevy

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English bevey, of obscure origin

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Explanation

A bevy is a flock of birds. Although the term can be used for a variety of birds, it most often refers specifically to a bevy of quail. Other terms exist to describe flocks of other types of birds — a murder of crows, for example. A bevy can also describe a large gathering of people, usually of the same type (a bevy of schoolchildren; a bevy of tourists). Most often, however, bevy is used to refer to a gathering of women. At a family reunion, you may find your grandmother holding court in the kitchen with a bevy of female relations. Young, attractive women are sometimes referred to, somewhat poetically, as "a bevy of beauties."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bevy bevies

For Bridget and her bevy of 'non-bridesmaids', the experience was a refreshing reminder that community is all around, "if you want to find it", she said.

From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026

Chip maker Arm Holdings and financial services group Marex are among a bevy of U.K. companies that opted for a U.S. listing in recent years.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026

Rhoa has shown his skill level and leadership against a bevy of highly ranked opponents so far this season, but his toughest task may come against a player who has seen his best traits firsthand.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2026

The toll is evident in a bevy of accident reports in recent years.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026

Pearl Ann stood with a bevy of women bragging about their sons and nephews in the army and all a-twitter over the coming New Year’s festivities.

From "Moon Over Manifest" by Clare Vanderpool

The two became not only financial associates but social pals, traveling on Low’s jet with bevies of other boldfaced names to parties all over the world.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 3, 2023

Willy-nilly every man, no matter how graceless his exterior, plays the polite host to bevies of little animals who pasture on his interior reaches.

From Time Magazine Archive

A Roman Catholic Marylander whose family has grown tobacco there since 1655. he has a strong craving for the gentleman farmer's life of herds, droves, flocks and bevies, of hunting, fishing and camping.

From Time Magazine Archive

Handlers would flush the bevies the dogs pointed but no one would shoot over them unless it was requested by the judges.

From Time Magazine Archive

Here and there he beheld bevies of rejoicing Apsaras and conclaves of happy Gandharvas, O monarch.

From The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 4 Books 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 by Kisari Mohan Ganguli

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