cousin

cous·in

C0700700 (kŭz′ĭn)n.1. A child of one's aunt or uncle. Also called first cousin.2. A relative descended from a common ancestor, such as a grandparent, by two or more steps in a diverging line.3. A relative by blood or marriage; a kinsman or kinswoman.4. A member of a kindred group or country: our Canadian cousins.5. Something similar in quality or character: "There's no mistaking soca for its distant Jamaican cousin, reggae" (Michael Saunders).6. Used as a form of address by a sovereign in addressing another sovereign or a high-ranking member of the nobility.

[Middle English cosin, a relative, from Old French, from Latin cōnsōbrīnus, cousin : com-, com- + sōbrīnus, cousin on the mother's side; see swesor- in Indo-European roots.]

cous′in·hood′ n.cous′in·ly adj.cous′in·ship′ n.

cousin

(ˈkʌzən) n1. Also called: first cousin, cousin-german or full cousin the child of one's aunt or uncle2. 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 cousin3. a member of a group related by race, ancestry, interests, etc: our Australian cousins. 4. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) a title used by a sovereign when addressing another sovereign or a nobleman[C13: from Old French cosin, from Latin consōbrīnus cousin, from sōbrīnus cousin on the mother's side; related to soror sister] ˈcousinˌhood, ˈcousinˌship n ˈcousinly adj, adv

Cousin

(French kuzɛ̃) n (Biography) Victor (viktɔr). 1792–1867, French philosopher and educational reformer

cous•in

(ˈkʌz ən)

n. 1. the son or daughter of an uncle or aunt. 2. one related by descent in a diverging line from a known common ancestor. 3. a kinsman or kinswoman; relative. 4. a person or thing related to another by similar natures, languages, geographical proximity, etc. 5. a term of address used by a sovereign for another sovereign or a high-ranking noble. [1250–1300; Middle English cosin < Anglo-French co(u)sin, Old French cosin < Latin consōbrīnus cousin (properly, son of one's mother's sister) =con- con- + sōbrīnus second cousin (presumably orig. “pertaining to the sister”) <*swesrīnos=*swesr-, gradational variant of *swesōr (>soror sister) + *-īnos -ine¹] cous′in•ly, adj.

Thesaurus

Noun

cousin - the child of your aunt or unclecousin-german, first cousin, full cousinrelative, relation - a person related by blood or marriage; "police are searching for relatives of the deceased"; "he has distant relations back in New Jersey"

Translations

堂兄弟堂姐妹堂表兄弟姊妹表兄弟表姐妹

cousin

(ˈkazn) noun a son or daughter of one's uncle or aunt. 堂（或表）兄弟，堂（或表）姐妹 first/full cousin a son or daughter of one's uncle or aunt. 堂（或表）兄弟，堂（或表）姐妹 second cousin a child of one's parent's first cousin or a child of one's first cousin. 第二代表兄妹，第二代堂兄妹

cousin

→ 堂表兄弟姊妹zhCN

cousin

country cousin

Someone unknowledgeable, unsophisticated, or naïve about the niceties and complexities of an urban environment, especially in a humorous or quaint capacity. I always try to lend a hand to the poor country cousins who invariably stand bewildered by the skyscrapers and the incredible noise of traffic. I thought I was savvy enough to live in New York City, but I soon felt like the country cousin.See also: country, cousin

everybody and his cousin

Used hyperbolically to express a large number or a majority of people. I'm so jealous, everybody and his cousin is going on a vacation this summer except for me.See also: and, cousin, everybody

everyone and his cousin

Used hyperbolically to express a large number or a majority of people. I'm so jealous, everyone and his cousin is going on a vacation this summer except for me.See also: and, cousin, everyone

first cousin

Someone or something that bears a close relation or resemblance to another person or thing. Their newest model of car, though spiffed up, remains a first cousin to their last design. In terms of artistic vision, the young director is clearly a first cousin to the likes of Alfred Hitchcock.See also: cousin, first

kissing cousin

1. Any cousin who is not a first cousin. Brad and Tom look a lot alike, but they are not that closely related—they're kissing cousins.2. A friend or relative who is close enough to be greeted with a kiss. Lisa and Kelly have been such close friends for so long that they're kissing cousins.See also: cousin, kiss

second cousin

Slightly similar or related to something else, while being noticeably different or unique. Usually followed by "to" or "of (something)." It's clear that, from design, power, and aesthetic, their new sports car is second cousin to the classic muscle cars of the 1950s.See also: cousin, second

kissing cousins

relatives who know one another well enough to kiss when they meet. Joe and I are kissing cousins, though we ain't seen one another since we was kids. Technically, we're second cousins once removed, but I just say we're kissing cousins.See also: cousin, kiss

think someone hung the moon (and stars)

and think someone is God's own cousinRur. to think someone is perfect. Joe won't listen to any complaints about Mary. He thinks she hung the moon and stars. Jim is awful stuck-up. He thinks he's God's own cousin.See also: hung, moon, think

What's buzzin'?

and What's buzzin' cousin?Sl. What's happening? Hey, chum! What's buzzin' cousin? What's buzzin' around here?

country cousin

One whose lack of sophistication or rural ways may amuse or embarrass city dwellers. For example, The sightseeing guide geared his tour toward country cousins who had never been to a large city before . This term, which literally means "a cousin who lives in the country," has been used in this figurative way since the second half of the 1700s, although the idea is much older (such persons were stock figures of fun in Restoration comedies of the late 1600s and early 1700s). See also: country, cousin

first cousin

A close relation or resemblance to someone or something, as in This new machine is a first cousin to the previous model. The figurative use of cousin, which literally means "the child of one's aunt or uncle," dates from the 1300s. See also: cousin, first

kissing cousins

Two or more things that are closely akin or very similar. For example, They may be made by different manufacturers, but these two cars are kissing cousins. This metaphoric term alludes to a distant relative who is well known enough to be greeted with a kiss. [c. 1930] See also: cousin, kiss

second cousin

Something that is related or similar but not quite the same, as in This beef stew is second cousin to boeuf bourguignon. This expression transfers the literal sense of second cousin-that is, the child of the first cousin of one's mother or father-a usage dating from the mid-1600s. See also: cousin, second

a country ˈbumpkin/ˈcousin

(informal, usually disapproving) a person from the countryside who is not used to towns or cities and seems stupid: He felt a real country bumpkin, sitting in that expensive restaurant, not knowing which cutlery to use.See also: bumpkin, country, cousin

What’s buzzin’ (cousin)?

interrog. What’s happening? Hey, chum! What’s buzzin’ cousin?

country cousin

A visiting unsophisticated relative or friend whose naiveté or rough manners embarrass the host. Such a person became a stock figure of fun in Restoration comedies (of the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries). The precise term was current by the second half of the eighteenth century and a cliché by the mid-nineteenth century. Anthony Trollope’s son’s reminiscences (Thomas Adolphus Trollope, What I Remember, 1887) included, “One of the sights of London for country cousins was to see the mails starting.” The term is heard less often today.See also: country, cousin

cousin

cous·in

cousin

Cousin

cous•in

cousin

cousin

cousin

country cousin

everybody and his cousin

everyone and his cousin

first cousin

kissing cousin

second cousin

kissing cousins

think someone hung the moon (and stars)

What's buzzin'?

country cousin

first cousin

kissing cousins

second cousin

a country ˈbumpkin/ˈcousin

What’s buzzin’ (cousin)?

country cousin

cousin

cousin

Cousin

Cousin

cousin

Synonyms for cousin

noun the child of your aunt or uncle

Synonyms

Related Words