subtribe

English

Etymology

From sub- +‎ tribe. In taxonomy, after New Latin subtribus.

Noun

subtribe (plural subtribes)

1. A tribe making up part of a larger tribe.
   • 1911, Cyrus Thomas, Indian Languages of Mexico and Central America‎:

     This leaves for consideration of this group of small tribes, or subtribes, so far as mapped by the writer quoted, the Teule, Cazcan, and Tecuexe.

2. (taxonomy) A taxonomic category ranking below tribe.
   • 1960, Doklady. Biological Sciences Sections, volumes 132–135, Washington, D.C.: American Institute of Biological Sciences, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 640, column 2:

     The tempo of evolution in South American hamsters was very rapid – in the course of the Pliocene and Anthropocene 40 genera were formed here, at which time a series of them attained the level of tribe and subtribe (Oxymycteri, Phyllotiini, Ichthyomyini).

   • 1993, Carl L. Withner, The Cattleyas and Their Relatives: A Book in Six Parts:

     Brieger and his associates first divide the subtribe Epidendrinae […] into what could be called series, distinguishing four such series in the subtribe.

Synonyms

• (taxonomy): subtribus

References

• “subtribe”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

Anagrams

• bierstub, stubbier