01 n. A tribe or collection of families, united under a chieftain, regarded as having the same common ancestor, and bearing the same surname; as,…
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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.
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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.