bevy
/ˈbɛvi/ noun
Forms bevies
- noun (collective) A group of animals, especially quail, roe deer or other game.
- noun (collective) A group, especially a large group, and especially a group of attractive girls or women.
Etymology
From Middle English bevey, of uncertain origin, possibly Anglo-Norman.
See bevvy.
Webster’s 1913
- noun A company; an assembly or collection of persons, especially of ladies.
- noun A flock of birds, especially quails or larks; also, a herd of roes.
Etymology [Perhaps orig. a drinking company, fr. OF. bevée (cf. It. beva) a drink, beverage; then, perh., a company in general, esp. of ladies; and last applied by sportsmen to larks, quails, etc. See Beverage.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “bevy”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details