clan

The definition of a clan is a close-knit group who are related or who share a strong common interest.

(noun)

The Jones family and all of the descendants of that family are an example of the Jones clan.
A group of artists who live together in a communal house and who share an interest in abstract art are an example of a clan of artists.

See clan in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

an early form of social group, as in the Scottish Highlands, composed of several families claiming descent from a common ancestor, bearing the same family name, and following the same chieftain
in certain primitive societies, a tribal division, usually exogamous, of matrilineal or patrilineal descent from a common ancestor
a group of people with interests in common; clique; set
Informal family (sense )

Origin: Gael & Ir clann, cland, offspring, tribe < L planta, offshoot: see plant

See clan in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A traditional social unit in the Scottish Highlands, consisting of a number of families claiming a common ancestor and following the same hereditary chieftain.
A division of a tribe tracing descent from a common ancestor.
A large group of relatives, friends, or associates.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Scottish Gaelic clann, family

Origin: , from Old Irish cland, offspring

Origin: , from Latin planta, plant, sprout; see plat- in Indo-European roots

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