See Also: tribal(dictionary)
tribal(dictionary)

tribal (iou)



tribal adjective & noun. M17.
[from TRIBE noun + -AL1.]
A. adjective.
Of or pertaining to a tribe or tribes; characteristic of a tribe. M17.
R. Grayson The tribal instinct of the rich to protect themselves. S. Woods A legal matter regarding tribal rights and territory. J. le Carre A delegation of West Africans in tribal costume.
transf. Characterized by the tendency to form groups or by strong group loyalty. M20.
G. Greer The tribal teenage situation.
b. noun. Chiefly in the Indian subcontinent: a member of a tribal community. Usu. in pl. M20.
tribali'zation noun the process of becoming tribalized L20.
tribalize verb trans. unite into a tribal group or groups E20.
tribally adverb L19.