cilts

From an older, obsolete verb cilt (“to rise”), or perhaps, via ablaut, from celt (“to raise, to lift, to build”). The meaning of cilt, “to rise,” is linked to that of “to appear, to originate, to be born;” the original being thus changed from “(where) one rises, is born” to “tribe.” Cognates include Lithuanian kiltìs.[1]

• IPA^(key): [tsîlts]

cilts f (6th declension)

1. tribe (group of people with a primitive type of social organization)

   pirmatnējās ciltis ― primitive tribes

   klejotāju ciltis ― nomadic tribes

   mednieku ciltis ― hunter tribes

   sena cilts ― ancient tribe

   cilts virsaitis ― tribal chieftain

2. a group of relatives with a common origin or ancestor, a clan, family

   viena asins... viena cilts ― one blood... one clan

   sena zvejnieku cilts ― an old clan/family of fishermen

3. (poetic) a group of people united by common ideals, activities, goals

   cilvēku cilts ― the human tribe, humankind