Ku Klux Klan

Ku Klux Klan  (k klks kln, ky)

n. Abbr. KKK

1. A secret society organized in the South after the Civil War to reassert white supremacy by means of terrorism.

2. A secret fraternal organization of similar intent founded in Georgia in 1915.

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[Perhaps alteration of Greek kuklos, circle; see cycle + alteration of clan.]

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Ku Klux Klan

Noun

a secret organization of White Protestant Americans who use violence against Blacks and Jews [probably based on Greek kuklos circle + clan]

Ku Klux Klanner n

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

Ku Klux Klan - a secret society of white Southerners in the United States; was formed in the 19th century to resist the emancipation of slaves; used terrorist tactics to suppress Black people KKK, Klan act of terrorism, terrorism, terrorist act - the calculated use of violence (or the threat of violence) against civilians in order to attain goals that are political or religious or ideological in nature; this is done through intimidation or coercion or instilling fear klavern - a local unit of the Ku Klux Klan South - the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line grand dragon - a high ranking person in the Ku Klux Klan Klansman, Kluxer, Ku Kluxer - a member of the Ku Klux Klan