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

Etymology

Origin of bevy

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

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

A pop-up vaccination clinic is now available at The Bevy community pub, on Hillside, in Brighton.

From BBC • Dec. 1, 2025

“As my friend Bevy Smith says, ‘Sometimes life be lifeing,’ and that happened for us today.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 11, 2024

But the book that I want to work on in the next couple of years is a children’s book about Little Brown Bevy.

From New York Times • Jan. 28, 2022

Watch the full chat with Bevy Smith below.

From Slate • Apr. 16, 2021

Oh, Bevy, I don't want to hurry or spoil your life in any way, but do keep in mind the future.

From The Titan by Dreiser, Theodore