The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Coterie \Co`te*rie"\ (k?`te-r?"; 277), n. [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.
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

coterie
    n 1: an exclusive circle of people with a common purpose [syn:
         clique, coterie, ingroup, inner circle, pack,
         camp]