Definition

Noun: A local unit or chapter of the Ku Klux Klan, a white supremacist hate group in the United States. The term specifically refers to the organized, local-level structure of this organization.

Usage

The word "klavern" is used almost exclusively to refer to a specific, organized local branch of the Ku Klux Klan. It is a proper noun that has become a common noun within this specific historical and sociological context. Its use is typically found in historical, journalistic, or academic discussions about the structure and activities of the Klan.

Examples

• The FBI monitored the activities of the klavern in the small town.
• Historical records show that a klavern was established in the county during the 1920s.
• Membership in the local klavern was secretive.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in plural form ("klaverns") when discussing the decentralized, cell-like structure of the Ku Klux Klan across different regions.
  • The organization was composed of numerous independent klaverns.

Variants and Related Words

• Ku Klux Klan (KKK) (proper noun): The name of the overarching organization to which a klavern belongs.
• Chapter (noun): A more general, neutral term for a local branch of a larger organization. In discussions about the KKK, "klavern" is the specific term used instead of "chapter."

Synonyms

• Local unit
• Chapter (in the specific context of the KKK)
• Lodge (a somewhat analogous term used by other fraternal organizations)

Notes on Meaning

"Klavern" carries significant historical and ideological weight. It is not a neutral term for any club or group; it refers specifically to a subunit of a racist and violent extremist organization. Its use immediately evokes the history, symbols, and actions of the Ku Klux Klan.

Noun

1. a local unit of the Ku Klux Klan