company n Cp OED ~ sb 3 (1393 quot).
   1 A number or group (of birds or animals).
   [1832] 1980 Them Days vi (2), p. 37 Seen a very large company of ducks at the back of the island in the afternoon. 1861 DE BOILIEU 239-40 [The watch-dog] will instantly lie down and crawl out of their sight, then immediately rise and run towards you, when by his actions you may be sure he has sighted a company. 1881 KENNEDY 53-4 The quick sight of the Indian at once pronounced them to be a herd of deer, or 'company' of them, as he called them. P 130-67 I see a company of ducks going over this morning. 1973 GOUDIE 34 We saw lots of seals, too. They were in companies of about fifty to a hundred in one lot. 1977 Inuit Land Use 225 Caribou herds, called companies, are small in winter, usually consisting of 15 to 25 animals but sometimes of as many as 40.
   2 Comb company bread: bread carried when travelling alone to ward off fairies; FAIRY BUN.
   1924 ENGLAND 220 Bread, called 'comp'ny bread,' in one's pocket, will keep the fairies away.

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