Covey (kv), n.
Etymology: [OF. cov, F. couv, fr. cover, F. couver, to sit or brood on, fr. L. cubare to lie down; cf. E. incubate. See Cubit, and cf. Cove to brood.]
1. A brood or hatch of birds; an old bird with her brood of young; hence, a small flock or number of birds together; -- said of game; as, a covey of partridges. Darwin.
2. A company; a bevy; as, a covey of girls. Addison.
2 other Webster entries under this spelling
Covey, v. i.
To brood; to incubate. [Obs.] [Tortoises] covey a whole year before they hatch. Holland.
Covey, n.
A pantry. [Prov. Eng.] Parker.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for covey; he lists it under flock.
Where he writes about it:
Flock is applied to birds and to some of the smaller animals; herd is confined to the larger animals; we speak of a bevy of quail, a covey of partridges, a flock of blackbirds, or a flock of sheep, a herd of cattle, horses, buffaloes, or elephants, a pack of wolves, a pack of hounds, a swarm of bees. — from flock