Southern Slavs

plural noun

See under Slav.

Definition for southern slavs (2 of 2)

Slav
[ slahv, slav ]
/ slɑv, slæv /

noun

one of a group of peoples in eastern, southeastern, and central Europe, including the Russians and Ruthenians (Eastern Slavs), the Bulgars, Serbs, Croats, Slavonians, Slovenes, etc. (Southern Slavs), and the Poles, Czechs, Moravians, Slovaks, etc. (Western Slavs).

adjective

of, relating to, or characteristic of the Slavs; Slavic.

Origin of Slav

1350–1400; < Medieval Latin Slāvus, variant of Sclāvus, akin to Late Greek Sklábos < a Slavic ethnonym, perhaps originally a name for all Slavic tribes (cf. Slovak, Slovene, Old Russian Slověně an East Slavic tribe); replacing Middle English Sclave < Medieval Latin Sclāvus

British Dictionary definitions for southern slavs

Slav
/ (slɑːv) /

noun

a member of any of the peoples of E Europe or NW Asia who speak a Slavonic language

Word Origin for Slav

C14: from Medieval Latin Sclāvus a captive Slav; see slave