I. ˈkəz ə n noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English cosin, from Old French cosin, cousin, from Latin consobrinus child of a mother's sister, cousin, from com- + sobrinus cousin on the mother's side, from soror sister — more at sister
1.
a. obsolete
(1) : someone collaterally related more remotely than a brother or sister (as a nephew)
(2) : one that is legally next of kin whether collaterally or lineally related except parent or child
b. : a child of one's uncle or aunt — called also first cousin, full cousin, own cousin ; see cross-cousin , parallel cousin
c. : a relative descended from one's grandparent or from a more remote ancestor by two or more steps and in a different line, a distinction often being made between (1) those descended an equal number of steps and (2) those descended an unequal number of steps from a common ancestor
the children of first cousins are second cousins to each other, the children of second cousins are third cousins, etc.
the child of one's first cousin is one's first cousin once removed, the latter's child is one's first cousin twice removed, etc., though these are often called also second and third cousins respectively
d. : a kinsman having some distant relationship usually by blood
2. : one marked by relationship, resemblance, or similar position or status : one readily associated with or thought of in connection with another : equivalent , complement , counterpart , opposite number
rural children deserve as good an education as their city cousins get — Benjamin Fine
the sonic barrier and its higher-speed cousin , the thermal barrier — B.K.Thorne
3. — used as a title by a sovereign in addressing or formally naming a nobleman of his own country or another sovereign and in English writs and commissions issued by the crown to refer to earls and peers of higher rank
my noble lords and cousins all, good morrow — Shakespeare
4.
a. : friend , comrade , associate
b. obsolete : fool , gull , dupe
c. : a competitor who is frequently and easily defeated or thwarted by an opponent not clearly superior
a pitcher who is a cousin to a certain batter
d. : an acquaintance of long, intimate, or informal standing
5. : a person of a race or people ethnically or culturally related or similar
our English cousins
today's islanders resemble their mainland cousins — National Geographic
II. intransitive verb
cousined cousined cousining ˈkəz( ə )niŋ cousins New England : to visit relatives especially when distant