matrilineal
adjective/ˌmætrɪˈlɪniəl/
/ˌmætrɪˈlɪniəl/
(specialist)- used to describe the relationship between mother and children that continues in a family with each generation, or something that is based on this relationship
- She traced her family history by matrilineal descent (= starting with her mother, her mother's mother, etc.).
Word Originearly 20th cent.: from Latin mater, matr- ‘mother’ + lineal.Definitions on the go
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matrilineal