— phratric, phratral, phratriac, phratrial , adj.
/fray"tree/ , n. , pl. phratries .
1. a grouping of clans or other social units within a tribe.
2. (in ancient Greece) a subdivision of a phyle.
[ 1745-55; phratría, equiv. to phratr-, s. of phratér clansman (akin to BROTHER) + -ia -Y 3 ]