clan

Definition

A group of people all descended from a common ancestor, in fact or belief, especially when the exact genealogies are not known.

Etymology

Borrowed from Irish clann (“offspring, children of the family”) and Scottish Gaelic clann, both from Old Irish cland, borrowed from Old Welsh plant, itself borrowed from Latin planta (“shoot, offspring”). Doublet of plant and planta.

Example Sentences

• "Holonym: nation"
• "Near-synonym: canton (uncommon outside of certain dialects)"
• "As a rule, you see, I'm not lugged into Family Rows. On the occasions when Aunt is calling to Aunt like mastodons bellowing across primeval swamps and Uncle James's letter about Cousin Mabel's peculiar behaviour is being shot round the family circle... the clan has a tendency to ignore me."