Coterie (kTe-r; 277), n.
Etymology: [F., prob. from OF. coterie servile tenure, fr. colier cotter; of German origin. See 1st Cot.]
A set or circle of persons who meet familiarly, as for social, literary, or other purposes; a clique. "The queen of your coterie." Thackeray.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for coterie; he lists it under class.
Where he writes about it:
A coterie is a small company of persons of similar tastes, who meet frequently in an informal way, rather for social enjoyment than for any serious purpose. — from class
Persons unite in a coterie through simple liking for one another; they withdraw into a clique largely through aversion to outsiders. — from class