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.
Noun
clan (plural clans)
- (anthropology) A group of people all descended from a common ancestor, in fact or belief, especially when the exact genealogies are not known.
- A traditional social group of families in the Scottish Highlands having a common hereditary chieftain
- Any group defined by family ties with some sort of political unity.
- (video game) A group of players who habitually play on the same team in multiplayer games.
- A badger colony.
Derived terms
- clannish
Credits
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