covey: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal/Literary
Quick answer
What does “covey” mean?
A small group of birds, especially partridges or similar game birds.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small group of birds, especially partridges or similar game birds.
A small, close-knit group of people or things.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More likely to be used in its literal ornithological sense in the UK, especially in hunting/shooting contexts. In the US, the extended meaning for a group of people might be slightly more common, though still rare.
Connotations
In both varieties, the extended use for people can imply exclusivity, intimacy, or quaintness.
Frequency
Low frequency in both, but perhaps marginally higher in UK English due to field sports.
Grammar
How to Use “covey” in a Sentence
A covey of [birds/people]The [hunter/dog] flushed the covey.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “covey” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [No standard verb form]
American English
- [No standard verb form]
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverb form]
American English
- [No standard adverb form]
adjective
British English
- [No standard adjective form]
American English
- [No standard adjective form]
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Rare, found in ecological or zoological texts.
Everyday
Extremely rare; a highly specialised word.
Technical
Used in ornithology and game bird management.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “covey”
- Using it for large groups (it implies a small group).
- Using it for non-living things is very atypical.
- Misspelling as 'cov-ey' or 'covy'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is specific to certain game birds like partridges, quail, or grouse. Using it for other animals (e.g., 'a covey of deer') is incorrect.
It is rare and literary. It suggests a small, close, and often quaint or exclusive group (e.g., 'a covey of debutantes').
A 'covey' is specifically a small group of certain ground-dwelling game birds. A 'flock' is a much more general term for groups of birds or sheep and can be any size.
It is pronounced /ˈkʌvi/ (KUHV-ee), rhyming with 'lovey' or 'glovey'.
A small group of birds, especially partridges or similar game birds.
Covey is usually formal/literary in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None common for this word]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a COZY group of birds huddled in a COVE - a COVEY.
Conceptual Metaphor
PEOPLE ARE BIRDS (A group of people is a covey of birds).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'covey' MOST appropriately used?