uncle

 
Pronunciation: /ˈʌŋk(ə)l/

noun

  • the brother of one’s father or mother or the husband of one’s aunt: he visited his uncle [as name]: tell me something interesting, Uncle [as title]: Uncle Alfred
  • informal an unrelated older male friend, especially of a child.
  • archaic, informal a pawnbroker.

Phrases

cry (or say or yell) uncle

North American informal surrender or admit defeat: he fought for a while, but he pretty quickly cried uncle

Uncle Tom Cobley (or Cobleigh) and all

British informal used to denote a long list of people.
[with allusion to the ballad Widdicombe Fair in G. Bantock's One Hundred Songs of England]

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French oncle, from late Latin aunculus, alteration of Latin avunculus 'maternal uncle' (see avuncular)