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

See Examples For:

bevy bevies

The Beatles’ “Rubber Soul” has gotten the special deluxe treatment, with a bevy of new editions on CD, vinyl and Blu-ray and a museum show’s worth of expertly curated material released Friday.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026

PCE inflation data—the Fed’s preferred inflation metric—for August will likely drive rate expectations Wednesday, as well as interventions from a bevy of Fed policymakers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 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

Then they gave up a bevy of picks and Pro Bowl linebacker Jared Verse to pry away Garrett.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026

“What took you so long to get up here, anyway? Paying court to your bevy of maidens?”

From "An Ember in the Ashes" by Sabaa Tahir

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

The crowd was pouring in from the cathedral, and bevies of priests, and scarlet choir-boys led by their fiddler.

From Limbo and Other Essays To which is now added Ariadne in Mantua by Vernon Lee