Pl. cousins-german, formerly cousin-germans, orig. -s -s. [a. F. cousin germain (13th c. in Littré): see GERMAN a. Formerly also german cousin, like brother-german, german brother.
c. 1314. Guy Warw. (A.), 912. He is mi germain cosyn.
a. 1555. Ridley, Wks. (Parker Soc.), 23. This … standeth upon transubstantiation its german cousin.]
1. The son or daughter of (one’s) uncle or aunt; (one’s) first cousin; = COUSIN sb. 2.
Now chiefly legal or technical.
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 2830. Cosyn also y am Germayn to Roland.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Melib., ¶ 402. Ye ne han bretheren ne cosyns germayns, ne noon ooþer neigh kynrede.
c. 1450. Merlin, vii. 117. Thei were bothe cosin germains, and also thei hadde wedded two sustres.
1555. Eden, Decades, 80. Shee … and the kynge of Portugale were cosyn germaynes of two systers.
1649. Bp. Hall, Cases Consc., IV. v. 434. Whether the marriage of Cousens-germans that is, of Brothers or sisters children, be lawfull.
1697. C’tess. D’Aunoy’s Trav. (1706), 23. He was brought up with one of his Cosen Germans.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 138, ¶ 2. A Cousin-German of mine and I were at the Bear in Holbourn.
1826. Southey, Lett. to Butler, 232. The marriage of cousin-germans … was allowed in the first ages of the church.
1839. Todd, Cycl. Anat., II. 473/1. The marriage of cousins-german … is reprobated as prejudicial by some.
† b. Cousin german (once) removed: = ‘first cousin once removed,’ i.e., first cousin’s child or (vice versâ) parent’s first cousin. Obs.
1494. Fabyan, Chron., VI. ccxviii. 237. Seynt Edwarde and this duke Wyllyam were, by the fathers syde, cosen iarmaynes remoued.
1667. Duchess of Newcastle, Life of Dk. (1886), 141. The now Earl of Devonshire, his cousin-german, once removed, lent him £1000.
2. fig. A person or thing closely related or allied to another; a near relative. Formerly approaching the character of an adj.: cf. COUSIN 9.
1547. Latimer, Serm. & Rem. (1845), 426. So to be natural may seem to be cater-cousin, or cousin-germain with to be diabolical.
1579. Gosson, Sch. Abuse (Arb.), 28. Poetrie and Piping are Cosen germans.
1638. Chillingw., Relig. Prot., I. ii. § 67. 77. Extreamly improbable and even cosen-german to Impossible.
1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., II. ii. § 49. Our Cousin-germans of Oxford will scarce give Credit hereunto.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 13, ¶ 1. The Lion was a Cousin-German of the Tyger who made his Appearance in King William’s days.
1822. W. Irving, Braceb. Hall (1849), 300. I had been apt to confound them [rooks] with their cousins-german, the crows.
