cousin

 
Pronunciation: /ˈkʌz(ə)n/

noun

  • (also first cousin) a child of one’s uncle or aunt.
  • a person in one’s wider extended family, to whom one is not closely related: she’s a distant cousin
  • a thing related or analogous to another: the new motorbikes are not proving as popular as their four-wheel cousins
  • (usually cousins) a person of a kindred race or nation: our American cousins
  • historical a title formerly used by a sovereign in addressing another sovereign or a noble of their own country.

Phrases

first cousin once removed

  • 1a child of one’s first cousin.
  • 2one’s parent’s first cousin.

first cousin twice removed

  • 1a grandchild of one’s first cousin.
  • 2one’s grandparent’s first cousin.

second cousin

a child of one’s parent’s first cousin.

second cousin once removed

  • 1a child of one’s second cousin.
  • 2one’s parent’s second cousin.

third cousin

a child of one’s parent’s second cousin.

Derivatives

cousinhood

noun

cousinly

adjective

cousinship

noun

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French cosin, from Latin consobrinus 'mother's sister's child', from con- 'with' + sobrinus 'second cousin' (from soror 'sister')