Covey

Pronunciation

• enPR: kÅ­vʹē, IPA: /ˈkÊŒvi/

From Old French covee (Modern French couvée), from Latin cubō ("lie").

Noun

1. A group of 8-12 (or more) quail. See gaggle, host, flock.
2. A brood of partridges, grouse, etc.
3. A party or group (of persons or things).
• 1906, O. Henry, The store is on a corner about which coveys of ragged-plumed, hilarious children play and become candidates for the cough drops and soothing syrups that wait for them inside.
• 1982, Lawrence Durrell, Constance, Faber & Faber 2004 (Avignon Quintet), p. 736A covey of grey soldiers clanked down the platform at the double with their equipment and embarked, but in absolute silence, which seemed to them very singular.

Full definition of covey

Verb

1. To brood; to incubate.
• HollandTortoises covey a whole year before they hatch.
• 1869, Florida. Commissioner of Lands and Immigration, Florida: Its Climate, Soil, and Productions (page 108)There is a duck called the raft duck, because it is so numerous, coveying together in "whole rafts."

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈkəʊvi/
• US enPR: kōʹvÄ“, IPA: /ˈkoÊŠvi/

cove + -y

Noun

1. (British, slang, dated) A man.
• 1846, Justin Jones, The prince and the queen; or, Scenes in high life'Pooh!' said he, 'you are as easily wounded as an unfledged dove — don't mind what an old covey like me says — I understand it all.'
• 1850, Waldo Howard, The mistake of a life-time, or, The robber of the Rhine (page 140)There vas an old covey as lived in Wapping, at the time I'm telling you of, who vas connected vith us by ties of common interest.
• 1851, William Thomas Moncrieff, Selections from the dramatic works of William T. MoncrieffI don't know what would become of these here young chaps, if it wasn't for such careful old coveys as we are—

Synonyms

• bloke UK, chap UK, chappie UK, cove UK, guy

Anagrams

• voyce