niece
[nees]
- a daughter of a person's brother or sister.
- a daughter of a person's spouse's brother or sister.
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Origin of niece
1250–1300; Middle English nece < Old French < Vulgar Latin *neptia, for Latin neptis granddaughter; replacing Middle English nifte, Old English nift niece (cognate with Old Frisian, Old High German nift, Dutch nicht, Old Norse nipt) < Germanic; akin to Lithuanian neptė̃, Sanskrit naptī; cf. nephew
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for niece
Contemporary Examples
He hugs his sister, Athelgra, hugs his daughter, Ernestine, hugs his niece Arthel.
The Stacks: The Neville Brothers Stake Their Claim as Bards of the BayouJohn Ed Bradley
April 27, 2014
Negron was dating Mayor Delle Donna's niece, Rita Perito, and their relationship allegedly turned physically abusive.
My ultimate aim is that by the time my niece is eight - she's three now - there won't be a risk of FGM.
I have a 13-year-old niece who is a Belieber (aka big fan of Justin).
The neighbor was off visiting somebody at the hospital, but a niece was there and let Ortega in.
Historical Examples
Mrs. Van Geist fixed her niece with a sudden look of suspicion.
The SpendersHarry Leon Wilson
I came here, brother, to propose a match for my niece, Angélique.
The Imaginary InvalidMolire
But, niece, it is not making too much fun of him to fall in with his fancies.
The Imaginary InvalidMolire
My dear Mother,—Mr. Vernon returned on Thursday night, bringing his niece with him.
Lady SusanJane Austen
The gentlemen considered a niece of Mrs. Stanhope as their lawful prize.
Tales And Novels, Volume 3 (of 10)Maria Edgeworth
niece
- a daughter of one's sister or brother
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Word Origin
C13: from Old French niece granddaughter, ultimately from Latin neptis granddaughter
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for niece
n.
c.1300, from Old French niece "niece, granddaughter" (12c., Modern French nièce), earlier niepce, from Latin neptia (also source of Portuguese neta, Spanish nieta), from neptis "granddaughter," in Late Latin "niece," fem. of nepos "grandson, nephew" (see nephew). Replaced Old English nift, from Proto-Germanic *neftiz, from the same PIE root (Old English also used broðordohter and nefene).
Until c.1600, it also commonly meant "a granddaughter" or any remote female descendant. Cf. cognate Spanish nieta, Old Lithuanian nepte, Sanskrit naptih "granddaughter;" Czech net, Old Irish necht, Welsh nith, German Nichte "niece."
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper