Forms: 4 cosynes(s, 5–6 Sc. cousignes, -nace, 6 Sc. cosingnace, -nais, 9 cousiness. [f. COUSIN + -ESS. Used in ME.; frequent in 16th-c. Scotch writers, and occasional as a nonce-wd. in 19th c.] A female cousin; a kinswoman (obs.).
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 625. Þer-for, curteise cosynes, for loue of crist in heuene, Kiþe nouȝ þi kindenes.
1382. Wyclif, Luke i. 36. Loo! Elizabeth, thi cosyness, and sche hath conceyued a sone in hir elde.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, X. 1156. His wiff was Eduuardis ner cusing [v.r. Eduuardis cousignes].
1575. Morton, Proclam. (Reg. Privy Council Scot. II. 459). Betwix our souverane Lord and his dearest sister and cousignace the Queene of England.
1858. People’s Paper, 28 Aug., 4/4. The wife of one and the cousiness of another.
1889. F. Pigot, Strangest Journey My Life, etc. 321. He had the bad taste not to care for his cousinesses, if I may coin a word which is much wanted in the language.
