A coterie of a particular kind is a small group of people who are close friends or have a common interest, and who do not want other people to join them. The songs he recorded were written by a small coterie of dedicated writers. = circle, set. a small group of people who enjoy doing the same things together, and do not like including others clique (, from an unrecorded cotier , from cotarius, from cot; COTTAGE)
A set or circle of persons who meet familiarly, as for social, literary, or other purposes; a clique