| 释义 |
ˈfoster-brother
[OE. fóster-bróðor, f. foster n.1 So ON. fóstbróðir.]
A male child nursed at the same breast as, or reared together with, another of different parentage.
a1000Ags. Voc. in Wr.-Wülcker 268 Alumnus, foster-broþor. 1470–85Malory Arthur i. vi, My sone your foster broder Syre Kay. 1653H. Cogan tr. Pinto's Trav. liv. (1663) 212 The Chaumigrem his Foster-brother was Commander in Chief. 1752Fielding Amelia Wks. 1775 X. 78 He had been her foster-brother. 1828Scott F.M. Perth xxxiv, Eachin MacIan placed himself in the second line betwixt two of his foster-brothers.
transf. and fig.1587Fleming Contn. Holinshed III. 1320/1 Foure of fansies fellowes, fosterbrothers to desire, and drie nurst by despaire. 1610Beaum. & Fl. Maid's Trag. iv. i, My wrongs, Which are my foster-brothers. a1735Arbuthnot Wks. (1751) I. 195 The Bear with her Cubs and their Foster-Brother. 1860All Year Round No. 63. 295 The nestling cuckoo ungratefully ejects his legitimate foster-brethren out of the family nest.
Hence foster-ˈbrotherhood.
1886Athenæum 6 Feb. 194/1 A more picturesque story of foster-brotherhood was never imagined. |