I. ˈkəvē, -vi noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French couvee, covee, from Old French covee, from feminine of cové, past participle of cover to sit on (as a female bird on eggs), brood over, from Latin cubare to lie down — more at hip
1. : a brood of birds : a mature bird or pair of birds with a brood of young : a small flock or number of birds of the same kind — used typically of partridges and certain related birds; compare bevy
2.
a. : company , crowd , band , crew
a covey of friends — John Buchan
a covey of schoolgirls — H.V.Morton
a covey of suspicious nuns — Earle Birney
b. : a number of things of the same kind : group
barricades and a covey of tanks — Virginia A. Oakes
a covey of queries answered for about-to-be brides — Mademoiselle
a covey of conferences — Economist
II. ˈkōvi noun
( -s )
Etymology: cove (III) + -y
slang Britain : a young fellow