Possies

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A colloquial term for a group or collection of friends, companions, or associates
2. Can refer to a group of individuals working or gathering together for a common purpose
3. Sometimes used to describe a cluster of similar items or things, often casually or informally

Etymology: "Possies" is the plural of "possie," a diminutive of "position" formed with the playful suffix "-ie," which English has long used to make affectionate or informal nicknames (think "hanky" or "brekkie"). The base word "position" traces back through Latin "positio," meaning a placing or setting down, which is where the idea of a place or spot comes from. The informal "possie" took the sense of a spot where someone stands or sits, and from there a group gathered in that spot. The sense shift is the most striking part. A word that started as a cosy term for a place to sit or stand came to name the people who occupy that place together, so that a "possie" is now the crowd of mates you hang out with. Its plural, "possies," simply counts those groups.

Synonyms: groups, cliques, gangs, sets, crews

Antonyms: individuals, loners