Hypertext Webster Gateway: "clan"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Clan \Clan\, 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.
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.
Partidge and the rest of his clan may hoot me.
--Smolett.
The whole clan of the enlightened among us. --Burke.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
clan
n : group of people related by blood or marriage [syn: {kin}, {kin
group}, {kinship group}, {kindred}, {tribe}]
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