gotra

American  

[goh-truh] / ˈgoʊ trə /

noun

1. a Hindu clan tracing its paternal lineage from a common ancestor, usually a saint or sage.

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Etymology

Origin of gotra

Borrowed into English from Sanskrit around 1875–80

Example Sentences

By the time the fathers discovered that their families were of the same gotra, or subcaste, generally making marriage taboo, their children had texted and emailed enough that they were hooked.

From New York Times • Apr. 24, 2015

"I cannot get my daughter married off to anyone with my gotra or my wife's gotra or my mother's gotra or my grandmother's gotra," Raghuvir Singh said.

From New York Times • Oct. 12, 2012

Khap panchayats generally govern a cluster of villages whose dominant population is from a single gotra, or clan, but make decisions for all castes.

From New York Times • Oct. 12, 2012

This is the name of a Brahman gotra, but such designations were often borne by Kshatriyas and the conqueror of Camboja probably belonged to that caste.

From Hinduism and Buddhism, An Historical Sketch, Vol. 3 by Eliot, Charles, Sir

The woman must not be the daughter of one who is of the same gotra with the bridegroom’s father or maternal grandfather.

From Marriage and Divorce Laws of the World by Ringrose, Hyacinthe