matrilateraladj.
/ˌmatrᵻˈlat(ə)rəl/, /ˌmatrᵻˈlat(ə)rl̩/, U.S. /ˈˌmætrəˈlædər(ə)l/, /ˈˌmætrəˈlætr(ə)l/, /ˈˌmeɪtrəˈlætr(ə)l/ Cultural Anthropology.
Of, relating to, or designating a relationship (esp. a marriage between cousins) in which a mother and one of her siblings or other relatives are both involved as parents.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > [adjective] > on mother's side
matern?a1513
uterine1632
maternal1650
umbilical1888
matrilateral1951
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > types of marriage custom or practice > [adjective] > marriage between relations
matrilateral1951
1951 Jrnl. Royal Anthropol. Inst. 81 24/2 Matrilateral cross cousin marriage (father's sister's son—mother's brother's daughter).
1957 V. W. Turner Schism & Continuity in Afr. Society viii. 254 Ndembu men appear to marry their patrilateral and matrilateral cross-cousins with equal frequency.
1971 World Archaeol. 3 191 It is probable that this alliance..continues today due to prescribed matrilateral cross-cousin marriage.
1986 Amer. Ethnologist 13 84 Affinal and matrilateral ties provide the armature upon which ceremonial exchange networks are built.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2001; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1951