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What makes up a bevy?
There’s no need to quail when confronted with a word of uncertain origins; some mysteries are simply destined to remain as such. Etymologists have a bevy of theories about the roots of bevy, for example, but little definitive evidence—and that’s okay! What we do know is that bevy emerged out of Middle English as the collective noun for a number of birds and mammals that were commonly hunted, including pheasants, partridges, roe deer, larks, and especially quail. Bevy is still used in this way today, not only for wild game but for gulls, hens, etc. But bevies are now most often composed of a great many people and things, as in “a bevy of reporters” or “a bevy of menu options.”
Examples of bevy in a Sentence
Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Feb. 2025
His extended injury absence, along with a bevy of injuries to other key contributors on the team, has led to the Pelicans sitting at 12-39.
—Eric Koreen, The Athletic, 6 Feb. 2025
On Saturday, there will be a chowder tasting at the Crown Hall banquet room featuring local restaurants (10 a.m.-noon, $20) and a wine walk through Mendocino’s bevy of quaint shops (noon-3 p.m., $65).
—John Metcalfe, The Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2025
The Pattern Beauty founder joined a bevy of high-profile guests and A-list attendees for the show, held at the historic New York Public Library.
—Julia Teti, WWD, 4 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for bevy 
Dictionary Entries Near bevy
Cite this Entry
“Bevy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bevy. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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