What Makes Up a bevy?

What do you call a group of crows? Or swine? Or leopards? Well-educated members of the medieval gentry seem to have been expected to know the answers: a murder of crows, a sounder of swine, and a leap of leopards. They would also have been expected to know that bevy referred specifically to a group of deer, quail, larks, or young ladies. Scholars aren't certain why bevy was chosen for those groups (though they have theories). What is known for sure is that bevy first appeared in the 15th century and was used as a highly specific collective for many years. Today, however, bevies can include anything from football players to toaster ovens.

Examples of bevy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Colin Goodbred, a 22-year-old transgender student raised in the Nashville suburbs who attends college in New Hampshire, says the bevy of new laws could keep him from ever calling Tennessee home again. — The Christian Science Monitor, 24 May 2021 Colin Goodbred, a 22-year-old transgender student raised in the Nashville suburbs who attends college in New Hampshire, says the bevy of new laws could keep him from ever calling Tennessee home again. — NBC News, 24 May 2021 Colin Goodbred, a 22-year-old transgender student raised in the Nashville suburbs who attends college in New Hampshire, says the bevy of new laws could keep him from ever calling Tennessee home again. — Jonathan Mattise, chicagotribune.com, 23 May 2021 Colin Goodbred, a 22-year-old transgender student raised in the Nashville suburbs who attends college in New Hampshire, says the bevy of new laws could keep him from ever calling Tennessee home again. — Jonathan Mattise, Star Tribune, 23 May 2021 Quick-drying, breathable and wicking, these leggings are already making fans, judging by the bevy of ecstatic online reviews. — CNN Underscored, 31 Mar. 2021 But the concert’s most striking and downright strange aspect was provided by a bevy of young cheerleaders from a local private school. — George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Feb. 2021 But the richest Americans also have a bevy of techniques at their disposal to legally avoid taxes, the ProPublica report noted. — Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 8 June 2021 Though production from the group was limited last year, Traylor believes the Roadrunners have a bevy of talent and depth at the position. — Greg Luca, San Antonio Express-News, 29 May 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bevy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.