▪ I. ‖ enclave, n.
(ˈɛnkleɪv, ɛnˈkleɪv, ɑ̃klav)
[Fr. enclave, f. enclaver to enclose, shut in, ad. late L. inclāvāre, f. in in + clāv-is key (Scheler), or clāv-us nail (Littré).]
A portion of territory entirely surrounded by foreign dominions. Also fig.
| 1868 G. Duff Pol. Surv. 38 Russia looks upon them [the Roumans] as destined to be a mere enclave in a Slavonic empire. 1870 Contemp. Rev. XV. 89 Enclaves in the territory of the greatest-happiness idea. 1884 Spectator 2 Feb. 150 Purely human enclaves in an inspired book. 1885 Pall Mall G. 16 Feb. 9/1 Portugal..possesses an enclave extending from Massabe to Red Point. |
Add: b. A group of people who are culturally, intellectually, or socially distinct from the majority of the population.
| 1945 R. Hargreaves Enemy at Gate 233 An enclave of intransigent Afrikander-Dutch..were permitted to develop a separate inimical culture. 1959 Listener 16 Apr. 683/1 Dr. Leavis successfully established a Lawrentian enclave in Cambridge. 1979 R. P. Graves A. E. Housman (1981) i. 3 Among its nine hundred inhabitants, Woodchester contained a sizeable and influential Roman Catholic enclave. |
▪ II. enˈclave, a. Her.
Also inclave.
[a. Fr. enclavé, pa. pple. of enclaver to dovetail: see prec.]
Of the border of an ordinary: Having a contour like that of a dovetail joint. So enˈclaved ppl. a.
| 1661 S. Morgan Sph. Gentry i. i. 8 This chiefe issuing into the sable field of darkness may properly called Inclave, breaking forth into a label of one point. 1731 in Bailey vol. II. Enclave. 1828 Berry Encycl. Heraldica, Inclave, the same as pattée, or dovetailed. |