[OE. fóster-bróðor, f. FOSTER sb.1 So ON. fóstbróðir.] A male child nursed at the same breast as, or reared together with, another of different parentage.
a. 1000. Ags. Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 268. Alumnus, foster-broþor.
147085. Malory, Arthur, I. vi. Ye wille make my sone your foster broder Syre Kay Senceall of alle your landes.
1653. H. Cogan, trans. Pintos Trav., liv. (1663), 212. The Chaumigrem his Foster-brother was Commander in Chief.
1752. Fielding, Amelia, Wks. 1775, X. 78. He had been her foster brother, and she had a great opinion of his integrity.
1828. Scott, F. M. Perth, xxxiv. On the right of the array of Clan Quhele, the Chief, Eachin MacIan, placed himself in the second line betwixt two of his foster-brothers.
transf. and fig. 1587. Fleming, Conin. Holinshed, III. 1320/1. Foure of fansies fellowes, fosterbrothers to desire, and drie nurst by despaire.
1610. Beaum. & Fl., Maids Trag., IV. i.
Though I am tame and bred vp with my wrongs, | |
Which are my foster-brothers. |
a. 1735. Arbuthnot, Misc. Wks. (1751), I. 195. A certain Person of Distinction purchased his whole Cargo, the Bear with her Cubs and their Foster-Brother.
1860. All Year Round, No. 63. 295. The nestling cuckoo ungratefully ejects his legitimate foster-brethren out of the family nest.
Hence Foster-brotherhood.
1886. Athenæum, 6 Feb., 194/1. A more picturesque story of foster-brotherhood and second sight was never imagined, and the Society for Psychical Research should certainly not neglect it.