bevy

noun

ˈbe-vē 

plural bevies

1

: a large group or collection

a bevy of girls

2

: a group of animals and especially quail

Did you know?

What makes up a bevy?

Bevy makes its appearance in Middle English as a word used especially for a group of deer, quail, larks, or young ladies. Etymologists aren't certain why bevy was chosen for those groups (though they have theories). Today, bevies include any person or thing—e.g., "a bevy of reporters," "a bevy of menu choices."

Examples of bevy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This film, with its bevy of cameos and in-jokes specific to the French arthouse scene, is unlikely to break the pattern, but the Fillières faithful will hold it especially dear. —Guy Lodge, Variety, 16 May 2024

Where to watch: The CW, Amazon Prime Sanditon Based on Jane Austen’s final unfinished novel of the same name, Sanditon has all the author’s requisite traits: a plucky heroine, a bevy of handsome suitors, and plenty of Regency-era drama. —Cady Lang, TIME, 16 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English bevey

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

bevy

noun

ˈbev-ē 

plural bevies

: a large group

a bevy of girls