group marriage

(among primitive peoples) a form of marriage in which a group of males is united with a group of females to form a single conjugal unit.

Also called communal marriage.

Origin of group marriage

First recorded in 1895–1900

Because this form of group-marriage is the simpler, it is also usually regarded as the earlier.

Elements of Folk Psychology |Wilhelm Wundt
But there is also a second form, which, though less frequent, is of greatest importance for an interpretation of group-marriage.

Elements of Folk Psychology |Wilhelm Wundt
The subject of group-marriage is one about which I do not find it possible to speak so dogmatically.

Kinship and Social Organisation |W. H. R. Rivers
There is also, of course, a form of group-marriage that differs from 'Pirrauru marriage,' and is apparently simpler.

Elements of Folk Psychology |Wilhelm Wundt

Even in Australia the phenomena of Pirrauru and of group-marriage are confined particularly to the southern regions.

Elements of Folk Psychology |Wilhelm Wundt

group marriage

an arrangement in which several males live together with several females, forming a conjugal unit