phylum

 
Pronunciation: /ˈfʌɪləm/

noun (plural phyla /-lə/)

  • 1 Zoology a principal taxonomic category that ranks above class and below kingdom, equivalent to the division in botany.
  • 2 Linguistics a group of languages related to each other less closely than those forming a family, especially one in which the relationships are unclear.

Origin:

late 19th century: modern Latin from Greek, phulon 'race'