clan /klæn/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: Scottish Gaelic ; Origin: clann 'family, race, clan' , from Old Irish cland 'new growth on a plant, offspring' , from Latin planta ; ⇨ ↑ plant 1 ]
1 . a large group of families who often share the same name:
the Campbell clan
warring clans
2 . informal a very large family:
The whole clan will be here over Christmas.