I. kə-ˈla-t(ə-)rəl adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin collateralis, from Latin com- + lateralis lateral
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : accompanying as secondary or subordinate : concomitant
digress into collateral matters
b. : indirect
c. : serving to support or reinforce : ancillary
2. : belonging to the same ancestral stock but not in a direct line of descent — compare lineal 3a
3. : parallel, coordinate, or corresponding in position, order, time, or significance
collateral states like Athens and Sparta
4.
a. : of, relating to, or being collateral used as security (as for payment of a debt or performance of a contract)
b. : secured by collateral
• col·lat·er·al·i·ty -ˌla-tə-ˈra-lə-tē noun
• col·lat·er·al·ly -ˈla-t(ə-)rə-lē adverb
II. noun
Date: 1691
1. : a collateral relative
2. : property (as securities) pledged by a borrower to protect the interests of the lender
3. : a branch of a bodily part (as a vein)