Eshell accepts ksh-like syntax. Amog others you can specify a group of files by (file1|file2|...|fileN). But, that is a bit tricky since parentheses also indicate lisp forms to be evaluated (for an example see the answer by lawlist). Use '' to tell it is a predicate, not form: cp /Users/HOME/.0.data/.0.emacs/.0.sources/emacs/(buffer.c|buffer.h|dispextern.h|ke‌​‌​yboard.c|nsterm.m|w32term.c|window.h|xdisp.c|xterm.c)'' ~/Desktop/emacs/src/