subcircle

sub- +‎ circle

subcircle (plural subcircles)

1. A lesser circle.
   • 2008 March 17, Susan Dominus, “Near Rubble, Regulars Miss Regular Bar”, in New York Times‎:

     If the building hadn’t been reduced to a pile of rubble, he’d have been there on Sunday, too, for what he called family night: a small dinner with a subcircle of the regulars, often potluck. Mr. Shuff would bring his “auntie’s red rice”; the super and his wife from a building next to Fubar would bring a roast or some deviled eggs.

• crucibles