Clan

Pronunciation

• IPA: /klæn/
• Rhymes: -æn

Origin

From Scottish Gaelic clann ("progeny, race"), from Old Irish cland, from Old Welsh plant, from Latin planta ("shoot, offspring").

Full definition of clan

Noun

1. (anthropology) A group of people all descended from a common ancestor, in fact or belief.
2. A traditional social group of families in the Scottish Highlands having a common hereditary chieftain
3. Any association of people behaving clannishly.
4. (video games) A group of players who habitually play on the same team in multiplayer games.
5. A badger colony.

Derived terms

• clannish
• matriclan
• patriclan

Descendants

• Dutch: clan
• German: Clan