/nef"yooh/ or, esp. Brit., /nev"yooh/ , n.
1. a son of one's brother or sister.
2. a son of one's spouse's brother or sister.
3. an illegitimate son of a clergyman who has vowed celibacy (used as a euphemism).
4. Obs. a direct descendant, esp. a grandson.
5. Obs. a remote male descendant, as a grandnephew or cousin.
[ 1250-1300; ME neveu nepotem, acc. of nepos nephew, grandson; akin to OE nefa, D neef, G Neffe, ON nefi; the pseudo-etymological sp. with ph has influenced pron. ]