Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Tribe?

\Tribe\, n. [L. tribus, originally, a third part of the Roman people, afterwards, a division of the people, a tribe; of uncertain origin: cf. F. tribu.] 1. A family, race, or series of generations, descending from the same progenitor, and kept distinct, as in the case of the twelve tribes of Israel, descended from the twelve sons of Jacob. ``The Lion of the tribe of Juda.'' --Rev. v. 5. A wealthy Hebrew of my tribe. --Shak. 2. (Bot.) A number of species or genera having certain structural characteristics in common; as, a tribe of plants; a tribe of animals. Note: By many recent naturalists, tribe has been used for a group of animals or plants intermediate between order and genus. 3. A nation of savages or uncivilized people; a body of rude people united under one leader or government; as, the tribes of the Six Nations; the Seneca tribe. 4. A division, class, or distinct portion of a people, from whatever cause that distinction may have originated; as, the city of Athens was divided into ten tribes. 5. (Stock Breeding) A family of animals descended from some particular female progenitor, through the female line; as, the Duchess tribe of shorthorns.
\Tribe\, v. t. To distribute into tribes or classes. [R.] Our fowl, fish, and quadruped are well tribed. --Abp. Nicolson.