cousin
[ kuhz-uh n ]
/ ˈkʌz ən /
noun
Also called first cousin, full cousin. the son or daughter of an uncle or aunt.See also second cousin, removed(def 2).
one related by descent in a diverging line from a known common ancestor, as from one's grandparent or from one's father's or mother's sister or brother.
a kinsman or kinswoman; relative.
a person or thing related to another by similar natures, languages, geographical proximity, etc.: Our Canadian cousins are a friendly people.
Slang. a gullible, innocent person who is easily duped or taken advantage of.
a term of address used by a sovereign in speaking, writing, or referring to another sovereign or a high-ranking noble.
Nearby words
courtside, courturier, courtyard, couru, couscous, cousin, cousin jack, cousin, victor, cousin-german, cousinly, cousinry
Origin of cousin
1250–1300; Middle English cosin < Anglo-French co(u)sin, Old French cosin < Latin consōbrīnus cousin (properly, son of one's mother's sister), equivalent to con- con- + sōbrīnus second cousin (presumably orig. “pertaining to the sister”) < *swesrīnos, equivalent to *swesr-, gradational variant of *swesōr (> soror sister) + *-īnos -ine1; for -sr- > -br- cf. December
Related formscous·in·age, cous·in·hood, cous·in·ship, noun
Definition for cousin (2 of 2)
Cousin
[ koo-zan ]
/ kuˈzɛ̃ /
noun
Vic·tor [veek-tawr] /vikˈtɔr/, 1792–1867, French philosopher and educational reformer: founder of the method of eclecticism in French philosophy.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for cousin
British Dictionary definitions for cousin (1 of 2)
cousin
/ (ˈkʌzən) /
noun
Also called: first cousin, cousin-german, full cousin the child of one's aunt or uncle
a relative who has descended from one of one's common ancestors. A person's second cousin is the child of one of his parents' first cousins. A person's third cousin is the child of one of his parents' second cousins. A first cousin once removed (or loosely second cousin) is the child of one's first cousin
a member of a group related by race, ancestry, interests, etcour Australian cousins
a title used by a sovereign when addressing another sovereign or a nobleman
Derived Formscousinhood or cousinship, nouncousinly, adjective, adverb
Word Origin for cousin
C13: from Old French cosin, from Latin consōbrīnus cousin, from sōbrīnus cousin on the mother's side; related to soror sister
British Dictionary definitions for cousin (2 of 2)
Cousin
/ (French kuzɛ̃) /
noun
Victor (viktɔr). 1792–1867, French philosopher and educational reformer
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for cousin
cousin
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with cousin
cousin
see country cousin; first cousin; kissing cousins; second cousin.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.