tribelet

[ trahyb-lit ]

noun

1. a tribe having few members, especially one that is a component of a larger tribal organization.

Word History and Origins

Origin of tribelet¹

First recorded in 1850–55; tribe + -let

Example Sentences

The Cholbon tribelet of the Northern Valley Yokuts tribe originally inhabited the area now called Mountain House, according to the Mountain House Community Services District.

From Los Angeles Times

In addition, measles and some of our other “childhood” diseases are more likely to kill infected adults than children, and all adults in the tribelet are susceptible.

From Literature

As tragic modern experience with Amazonian Indians and Pacific Islanders confirms, almost an entire tribelet may be wiped out by an epidemic brought by an outside visitor—because no one in the tribelet had any antibodies against the microbe.

From Literature

Having killed most of the tribelet, the epidemic then disappears.

From Literature

Since the disease may take a very long time to kill its victim, the victim remains alive as a reservoir of microbes to infect other members of the tribelet.

From Literature