brother-in-law

American  

[bruhth-er-in-law] / ˈbrʌð ər ɪnˌlɔ /

noun

plural

brothers-in-law

1. the brother of one's spouse.

2. the husband of one's sister or brother.

3. the husband of one's spouse's sister or brother.

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brother-in-law British  

noun

1. the brother of one's wife or husband

2. the husband of one's sister

3. the husband of the sister of one's husband or wife

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Etymology

Origin of brother-in-law

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English brother in law(e); brother, in, law ¹; from Middle English in-lawe “in law,” i.e., “a person within the regulation and protection of the law,” based on the prohibition by Roman civil law and, later, Christian canon law, of marriages within four degrees of consanguinity, i.e., up to and including first cousins

Example Sentences

Around 1 a.m., seven hours after Ashaal failed to return home, a cousin and brother-in-law contacted friends, hospitals and the various security headquarters in Aden.

From Los Angeles Times

He borrowed another $16,000 from his brother-in-law to post bail.

From The Wall Street Journal

"I'd always wanted to do a practical job, and my brother-in-law had just gone through the training for a train driver and said, 'why don't you try it?'."

From BBC

"It is not our obligation, but our duty," the 33-year-old, whose brother-in-law was released after more than two years in Russian detention, said.

From Barron's

He was in Belgrade with Albarn shooting the second video from “Cracker Island” when he received a call from his brother-in-law, who said that Amo had just had a stroke.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• aunt
• cousin
• father
• folk
• mother
• niece
• sibling
• uncle