n. [ Gael. clann offspring, descendants; akin to Ir. clann, cland, offspring, tribe, family; perh. from L. plania scion, slip, cutting. Cf. Plant, n. ] 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. “I have marshaled my clan.” Campbell. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Partidge and the rest of his clan may hoot me. Smolett. [ 1913 Webster ]

The whole clan of the enlightened among us. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. clancularius , from clanculum secretly, adv. dim. of clam secretly. ] Conducted with secrecy; clandestine; concealed. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Not close and clancular, but frank and open. Barrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. privately; secretly. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. clandestinus, fr. clam secretly; akin to celare, E. conceal: cf. F. clandestin. ] Conducted with secrecy; withdrawn from public notice, usually for an evil purpose; kept secret; hidden; private; underhand; as, a clandestine marriage. Locke.

Syn. -- Hidden; secret; private; concealed; underhand; sly; stealthy; surreptitious; furtive; fraudulent.

-- Clan*des"tine*ly, adv. -- Clan*des"tine*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Privacy or secrecy. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Clanged p. pr. & vb. n. Clanging. ] [ L. clangere; akin to Gr. kla`zein to clash, scream; or perh. to E. clank. ] To strike together so as to produce a ringing metallic sound. [ 1913 Webster ]

The fierce Caretes . . . clanged their sounding arms. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To give out a clang; to resound. “Clanging hoofs.” Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A loud, ringing sound, like that made by metallic substances when clanged or struck together. [ 1913 Webster ]

The broadsword's deadly clang,
As if a thousand anvils rang. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Mus.) Quality of tone. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A conspicuous mistake whose effects seem to reverberate; as, he dropped a clanger. [ British ] [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adj. emitting a series of clangs, as of metal objects colliding.
Syn. -- clangorous. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ L., fr. clangere. See Clang, v. t. ] A sharp, harsh, ringing sound. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a loud resonant repeating noise.
Syn. -- clang, clangor, clangour, clank, clash, crash, jangle. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. [ LL. clangorosus. ] Making a clangor; having a ringing, metallic sound. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Making a clang, or a ringing metallic sound. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Same as Clamjamphrie. [ Scot. ] Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To sound with a clank. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Akin to clink, and of imitative origin; cf. G. klang sound, D. klank. Cf. Clang. ] A sharp, brief, ringing sound, made by a collision of metallic or other sonorous bodies; -- usually expressing a duller or less resounding sound than clang, and a deeper and stronger sound than clink. [ 1913 Webster ]

But not in chains to pine,
His spirit withered with tyeur clank. Byron. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Clanked p. pr. & vb. n. Clanking. ] To cause to sound with a clank; as, the prisoners clank their chains. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Without a clank. Byreon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Ir., clan of the Gaels. ] A secret society of Irish Fenians founded in Philadelphia in 1881. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. Of or pertaining to a clan; closely united, like a clan; disposed to associate only with one's clan or clique; actuated by the traditions, prejudices, habits, etc., of a clan.

-- Clan"nish*ly, adv. -- clan"nish*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. a tendency to associate with only a select group.
Syn. -- cliquishness, exclusiveness. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. a tendency to associate with only one's own clan; the propensity to display the sentiments, habits, and prejudices of one's own clan. [ PJC ]

n. A state of being united together as in a clan; an association under a chieftain. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Clansmen One belonging to the same clan with another. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a female member of a clan.
Syn. -- clansman, clan member. [ WordNet 1.5 ]