skin group

See also: skin-group

English

Alternative forms

• skin-group

Noun

skin group (plural skin groups)

1. An Australian Aborigine social division, which is inherited from the mother and which determines who one can marry and how one relates to others.
   • 2002, Diane Bell, Daughters of the Dreaming, →ISBN, page 18:

     A person is born into their skin group and thus, in addition to a personal name, shares with other relatives who are similarly classified, a skin name.

   • 2004, Claire Smith, Country, Kin and Culture, →ISBN, page 9:

     Until very recently the penalties for marrying someone from another skin group were very harsh, and included death.

   • 2006, Chris Wilson, Macmillan Educational Company, Trisha Sertori, Jane Pelusey, Michael Pelusey, Chris Wilson, Huddleston Bruce, & Marilyn Huddleston, Life in Indigenous Australian Communities, →ISBN, page 13:

     Our skin group tells us who we can marry and who we should not talk to.

Related terms

• skin name