While the modern usage of “coterie” could be thought of as something closer to a clique, the original usage was essentially a workers’ union. In 18th-century France, over 90% of the total population worked in fields, and they were so overworked and underfed that most died by age 30. Workers came together to form organizations of land tenants — these groups were called “cotiers” in French. From there, the word “coterie” came into English and evolved to refer to any exclusive group of people with shared interests.