Forms: 3–6 cosine, -yn(e, 3–7 cosin, (4 kosin, -yn, cozyn, cossen, pl. kosnis, cosignis), 4–5 cusin, -yn, -ing, -yng, 4–6 cosyng, cousyn, -ing, -yng, 4–7 cosen (5 koson, kussin, cosinne, -ynne), 5–6 cossin(e, coosen, -in, -yn, coussin, 6–7 cousen, couzen, (7 cozen, -in, cuzen), 6– cousin. [a. F. cousin, in OF. also cusin, cosin = Pr. cosin, cozin, Cat. cosí, It. cugino, Rumansch cusrin, cusdrin:—L. consobrīnus cousin by the mother’s side. Med.L. forms were cossofrēnus and cosīnus (St. Gall. Vocab. 7th c.). In mediæval use, the word seems to have been often taken to represent L. consanguineus: see 1 b, 9.]
† 1. A collateral relative more distant than a brother or sister; a kinsman or kinswoman, a relative; formerly very frequently applied to a nephew or niece. Obs.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 24312 (Cott.). Þir martirs tuin [St. Mary and St. John] … Cosins bath and martirs clene.
c. 1320. Sir Beues, 2578. Men tolde, þe bischop was is em … Þe beschop … seide: ‘Wolkome, leue cosin!’
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 189. Þi sister sonne am I, þou eam & I cosyn.
1340. Ayenb., 89. [Jesus] ansuerede, ‘huo ys my moder, and huo byeþ myne cosynes?’
1382. Wyclif, Dan. xiii. 29. She came with fadir, and modir, and sonnys, and alle hir cosyns [1388 alle kynesmen].
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., lxi. 261 (Harl. MS.). A! lorde god … have mercy of my swete sone, husbonde, and cosyn … that he may be clene of his synnys.
1483. Cath. Angl., 77. A Cosyn, cognatus.
1483. Caxton, Cato, A iv. There be thre manere of cosyns. The fyrst is spirituel as ben godfaders and godmoders.
1526. Tindale, Rom. xvi. 7. Salute Andronicus, and Junia my cosyns [1611 kinsmen].
1574. trans. Littleton’s Tenures, 23 b. Si parentes inter se lamentantur, which is as muche to saye that yf the cosins of such a chylde have cause to make lamentacion.
1599. Shaks., Much Ado, I. ii. 2. How now brother, where is my cosen your son?
1668. Mrs. Evelyn, To her brother-in-law, in Evelyn’s Mem. (1857), IV. 13. Though your eye be continually over my cousin your son.
1748. Richardson, Clarissa, I. vi. 36. ‘Cousin Harlowe’ said my aunt Hervey, ‘allow me to say,’ [etc.].
† b. In legal language formerly often applied to the next of kin, or the person to whom one is next of kin, including direct ancestors and descendants more remote than parents and children. (Here taken as = L. consanguineus.)
a. 1400[?]. Arthur, 215. [The ‘Emperor’ Lucius to Arthur] Oure cosyn Iulius cesar Somme tyme conquered þar.
1491. Act 7 Hen. VII., c. 15 § 5. Anne his Wyf, in hir right as cosyn and heire unto the seid Thomas Lord Dispenser that is to sey, Doughter to Isabell doughter to the same Thomas.
1495. Act 1 Hen. VII., c. 63 § 4. Any of the premysses, that … reverte from any Auncestour or Cosyn of the seid Fraunces.
1503. Act 19 Hen. VII., c. 35 § 1. Robert Brews Squyer Cosyn and heire unto Sir Gilbert Debenham … that is to say, sone of Elizabeth Brews Sister to the seid Sir Gilbert.
1574. trans. Littleton’s Tenures, 2 a. Everye one that is his next cosyn collaterall of the whole bloude.
1613. Sir H. Finch, Law (1636), 267. After the death of his great great grandfather or grandmother, or any other collaterall Cosin, as the great great grandfathers brother.
1642. Perkins, Prof. Bk., viii. § 506. One P . D and A his wife enter into the same land as in the right of A his wife as coosen and heire to the donor.
c. Applied to people of kindred races or nations (e.g., British and Americans).
1837. W. Irving, Capt. Bonneville, II. 252. He had received such good accounts from the Upper Nez Percés of their cousins, the Lower Nez Percés.
1860. Jeaffreson, Bk. about Doctors, II. 158. The example … was not lost upon the physicians of our American cousins.
1892. Times, 11 Aug., 3/3. Other toasts were given, that of ‘Our American Cousins’ being proposed by Mr. Harry Furniss.
2. spec. The son or daughter of (one’s) uncle or aunt: = own, first, or full cousin, COUSIN GERMAN. (The strict modern sense.)
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., I. 365/24. Huy weren ore louerdes cosines.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Serm., Sel. Wks. I. 86. Joon Evangelist … Crist was his cosyn, and Cristis modir was his aunte.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 94. Coosyn or emys sone, cognatus.
1530. Palsgr., 209/1. Cosyn, brothers children, cousin germain.
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., I. iv. 1–10. Cosene Aumerle, How far brought you high Herford on his way? What said our Cosin when you parted with him? Ibid., IV. i. 181. Giue me the Crown. Here Cousin, seize ye Crown: Here Cousin, on this side my Hand, on that side thine.
1598. B. Jonson, Ev. Man in Hum., III. i. 1. I am this gentleman’s own cousin, sir; his father is mine uncle, sir.
1655–60. Stanley, Hist. Philos., III. II. 120. The children of uncles, or of cosens.
1841. Lane, Arab. Nts., I. 62. A cousin … is often chosen as a wife, on account of the tie of blood.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 10. He is my cousin, and the son of my uncle Glaucon.
b. Cousin-in-law: a cousin’s wife or husband. [after brother-in-law, etc.]
1874. L. Tollemache, in Fortn. Rev., Feb., 242. The rich cousin-in-law [in ‘Locksley Hall’].
1890. Dunckley, Ld. Melbourne, 78. The lady suggested was Lady Caroline’s cousin-in-law.
3. First, second cousin, etc.: expressing the relationship of persons descended the same number of steps in distinct lines from a common ancestor.
Thus the children of brothers or sisters are first cousins to each other; the children of first cousins are second cousins to each other; and so on. The term second cousin is also loosely applied to the son or daughter of a first cousin, more exactly called a (first) cousin once removed.
1660. Jer. Taylor, Duct. Dubit. (1671), 242. I never knew the marriage of second cosens forbidden, but by them who at the same time forbad the marriage of the first.
1661. Merry Drollery, II. (1691), 346. Who thus confineth all his pleasure To th’ arms of his first Couzen.
1688. Miége, Fr. Dict., s.v. Cousin, A second Cousin, a Cousin once removed, Cousin issu de germain.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 496, ¶ 3. No man swung any woman who was not second cousin at farthest.
1752. W. Stewart, in Scots Mag. (1753), Sept., 446/1. The deponent is first cousin to the pannell.
1834. Ht. Martineau, Farrers, iii. 43. Morgan believed herself to be the fiftieth cousin of the family.
1883. L. Oliphant, Altiora Peto, I. 27. I am consequently full second cousin of the present Earl.
4. fig. A person or thing having affinity of nature to another. † To have no cousin: to have no fellow or equal (obs.).
1386. [see 9].
1538. Bale, Thre Lawes, 271. Now wyll I proue ye a lyar Next cosyne to a friar.
1542. Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 220 b. If he had had the feacte to hold and kepe an empire, as well as he could achiue and winne it, he had had no cousin.
1586. Cogan, Haven Health, 279. Other diseases neere Cosins to the plague.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts (1673), 300. The evill habit of the body is next cousen to the dropsie.
1629. Chapman, Juvenal, v. 193.
| Now, for his Lamprey, thou art glad to take | |
| An Eele, neere cozen to a hideous Snake. |
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), IV. 380. The Sophist is the cousin of the parasite and flatterer.
1883. G. Lloyd, Ebb & Flow, I. 23. Hawthorn Hall was not first cousin to The Aspens, having nothing of the villa about it.
5. As a term of intimacy, friendship or familiarity.
a. Used by a sovereign in addressing or formally naming another sovereign, or a nobleman of the same country.
In England applied in royal writs and commissions to earls and peers of higher rank. (See quotation 1765, and cf.
c. 1460. Fortescue, Abs. & Lim. Mon., x. 134. And by discente þer is not like to ffalle gretter heritage to any man than to þe kyng. For to hym bith cosens þe most, and grettest lordes off the reaume.)
1418. Hen. V., in Ellis, Orig. Lett., I. i. I. 1. With my cosin of Northumberlond and my cosin of Westmerlond.
1477. Edw. IV., ibid. ix. 16. Where as our brother and cousin the King of Scotts desireth a marriage to be had [etc.].
1513. Jas. IV. to Hen. VIII., ibid. xxvii. 78. To the richt excellennt, richt hie, and michty Prince oure Derrest Brothir and Cousing the King of Ingland.
1593. Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., IV. viii. 34. Cousin of Exeter, what thinkes your Lordship? Ibid. (1601), All’s Well, I. ii. 5. A certaintie vouch’d from our Cosin Austria. Ibid., III. i. 7. Therefore we meruaile much our Cosin France Would in so iust a businesse, shut his bosome Against our borrowing prayers.
1673. Charles II., in Essex Papers (Camden), I. 112. Right Trusty and Right Welbeloved Cousin & Counsellor, Wee greet you well.
1765. Blackstone, Comm., I. 386. In all writs, and commissions … the king, when he mentions any peer of the degree of an earl, always stiles him ‘trusty and well beloved cousin’: an appellation as antient as the reign of Henry IV; who being either by his wife, his mother, or his sisters actually related or allied to every earl in the kingdom, artfully … acknowledged that connexion in all his letters.
1843. Prescott, Mexico (1850), I. 126. The title … of primo, or ‘cousin,’ by which a grandee of Spain is saluted by his sovereign.
1850. R. Commission Gt. Exhib., in Lond. Gaz., 4 Jan., 23/1. Victoria, by the grace of God … to … Our right trusty and right entirely-beloved Cousin and Councillor, Walter Francis Duke of Buccleuch and Queensbury.
b. As a friendly or familiar term of address or designation. Now esp. in Cornwall; hence Cousin Jan, Cousin Jacky, nicknames for a Cornishman.
c. 1430. Lydg., Bochas, I. i. (1544), 1. Our fader Adam … sayde ‘Cosine Bochas.’
1859. W. B. Forfar (title), Cousin Jan’s Courtship and Marriage.
1880. W. Cornwall Gloss., Cousin, a familiar epithet. All Cornish gentlemen are cousins. Cousin Jan, a Cornishman. Ibid., E. Cornw. Words, 71. To imitate the talk of Cousin Jacky from Redruth or St. Just.
† 6. cant. A strumpet, trull. Obs. (Cf. AUNT 3. So Cousin Betty; also, a half-wit.
a. 1700. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, One of my Cosens, a Wench.
1708. Motteux, Rabelais (1737), V. 217. Cousins, Cullies, Stallions and Belli-bumpers.
1749. Goadby, Bampfylde M. Carew, xv. One of the sisters of that order of mendicants commonly called Cousin Betties. Ibid., xix. A gay bachelor, who … was a great admirer of that order of Female Travellers called Cousin Betties.
1847–78. Halliwell, s.v., Cousin Betty, or Cousin Tom, a bedlamite beggar; now applied to a mad woman or man.
1863. Mrs. Gaskell, Sylvia’s L., I. xiv. 304 (D.). [No one] can say Foster’s wronged him of a penny, or gave short measure to a child or a Cousin Betty.
7. Phrases. To call cousins: to claim kinship (with); see CALL v. 17 b. Similarly To call the king one’s cousin, etc. (mostly with negative). † My dirty cousin, or my cousin the weaver: formerly used as a contemptuous form of address. Cousin kiss-them-all: a colloquialism for ‘wheedler’ (Suffolk).
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. II. 102. A Mayden ful gent; Heo mihte cusse þe kyng for cosyn ȝif heo schulde.
1623, etc. [see CALL v. 17 b].
c. 1706. Swift, Pol. Conv., ii. (D.). A kiss! marry come up, my dirty cousin.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, IV. xiv. (D.). Marry come up! I assure you, my dirty cousin, thof his skin be so white … I am a Christian as well as he.
1793. L. Williams, Children’s Friend, I. 175. He talks and acts as if the King were his cousin, and he has not a farthing all the while.
1836. Marryat, Three Cutters, ii. I only wish I had … I wouldn’t call the king my Cousin.
1882. Pall Mall Gaz., 9 June, 4/4. A person who apparently calls cousins with some of the ‘best’ people in England.
† 8. To make a cousin of: ? to beguile, deceive, mislead, impose upon, gull, hoax. Obs.
[App. connected with COZEN v., either as the phrase from which that vb. arose, or as a play upon the two words. For the latter, cf. also to prove a cousin to in quot. 1600.]
1580. Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 235. Cassander … determined with him selfe to make a Cosinne of his young Neuew [app. by keeping him in the dark as to facts] untill he had bought witte with the price of his woe.
1600. Rowlands, Lett. Humours Blood, vii. 83. And while his eares with Brothers tearmes he feedes He prooueth but a Coosen in his deedes.
1655. Fuller, Hist. Camb. (1840), 117. The said Sir Henry Savill … at an Oxford Act … in mere merriment, (to try whether he could make cousens of his aunt’s children therein,) devised the story, far from any … mischievous intent to deceive posterity, but only for present delight.
9. In its use predicatively, as in to be cousin to, and in apposition, as in cousin brutes (cf. brother men), the word sometimes approaches the character of an adj. = kindred, akin, related. (Cf. L. consanguineus.)
c. 1386. Chaucer, Prol., 742. The wordes moote be cosyn to the dede.
1525. Ld. Berners, Froiss., II. xci. [lxxxvii.] 271. That ye shal be frendes and cosyn to the kynge, as by reason ye ought to be.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., III. iv. 12. Her former sorrow into suddein wrath (Both coosen passions of distroubled spright), Conuerting.
1606. Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. iii. IV. 138. All the Campe with head-les dead is sowne, Cut-off by Cozen-swords, kill’d by their own.
1852. H. Rogers, Ess., I. vii. 407. A family resemblance to his cousin brutes.
