kith and kin

American  

plural noun

1. acquaintances and relatives.

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kith and kin Idioms  

1. Friends and family, as in Everyone was invited, kith and kin as well as distant acquaintances. This expression dates from the 1300s and originally meant “countrymen” (kith meant “one's native land”) and “family members.” It gradually took on the present looser sense.

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Etymology

Origin of kith and kin

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400

Example Sentences

It was believed that if one killed a crane, its kith and kin would flock to the killer's home, hold vigil and mourn by collectively honking until the person went mad or even died.

From BBC • Feb. 15, 2025

It is us, kith and kin, born of human misadventure.

From New York Times • Feb. 16, 2023

Gander residents renewed this rite not out of fear of divine punishment but as an affirmation of civilization, which extends cooperation and reciprocity beyond kith and kin.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 9, 2021

I'm not saying that poor families didn't use utensils, but the finer points of table manners were a low priority compared to scrounging up enough food to feed kith and kin.

From Salon • Apr. 7, 2019

Every element lived in harmonious relation with its neighbour, and all was kith and kin.

From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel