Ku Klux Klan /ˈkuˈklʌksˈklæn ||ˈkju ||ˈklu-/



 Ku·klux, Ku Klux, Ku Klux Klan n. The name adopted in the southern part of the United States by a secret political organization, active for several years after the close of the Civil War, and having for its aim the repression of the political power of the freed negroes; -- called also Kuklux Klan and the Klan.  It exerienced a revival in the 1920's, in the north as well as the south, and persists as a weak organization into the 1990's.  Its goals were primarily anti-negro and anti-Catholic, and its tactics included terrorist attacks on negroes for the purpose of intimidation with the goal of continuing segregation.  The signature activity of the Klan was the burning of a cross, either at rallies of Klansmen, or on the property of African-Americans which they hoped to intimidate.

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 Ku Klux Klan
      n : a secret society of white Southerners in the United States;
          was formed in the 19th century to resist the emancipation
          of slaves; used terrorist tactics to suppress Black
          people [syn: Klan, KKK]