What does «caterva» mean in Spanish?

A crowd of people or animals of little importance, despicable or disorderly.

Examples of use in Spanish: "caterva de pillos".

"lo rodeó una caterva de chiquillos".

"¡una caterva de ignorantes!".

"la oposición es una caterva de payasos y marionetas".
Abundance of things usually unimportant, of little value or disorderly.

Examples of use in Spanish: "caterva de cosas viejas".

"caterva de tratos para ordenar".
(venir en caterva) Come in crowds.
(por catervas) In droves, in disorderly fashion.