clan

Noun
Synonyms: kinkin groupkinship groupkindredtribe

WordNet 3.0

Noun (1)

  1. group of people related by blood or marriageSynonyms: kinkin groupkinship groupkindredtribe
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Clan \Clan\ (kl[a^]n), n. [Gael. clann offspring, descendants; akin to Ir. clann, cland, offspring, tribe, family; perh. from L. plania scion, slip, cutting. Cf. Plant, n.]

1.A tribe or collection of families, united under a chieftain, regarded as having the same common ancestor, and bearing the same surname; as, the clan of Macdonald. "I have marshaled my clan." --Campbell. [1913 Webster]

2.A clique; a sect, society, or body of persons; esp., a body of persons united by some common interest or pursuit; -- sometimes used contemptuously. [1913 Webster]

Partidge and the rest of his clan may hoot me.— Smolett.[1913 Webster]
The whole clan of the enlightened among us.— Burke.[1913 Webster]
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