Definition

1. Noun:
   • A child of one's aunt or uncle: A person who shares a common set of grandparents with you, but is not your sibling. This is the most specific and common meaning of the term.

Usage

• The term "first cousin" is used to specify the closest and most common type of cousin relationship, distinguishing it from more distant relatives like second cousins or cousins once removed.
• It is a standard kinship term used in formal, legal, and everyday contexts.

Examples

• Noun:
  • My first cousin is visiting from Canada this summer.
  • She discovered that her new colleague was actually her first cousin.
  • In many cultures, it is common for first cousins to know each other well.

Advanced Usage

• "First cousin once removed": This refers to the child of your first cousin, or the first cousin of your parent. It indicates a generational difference.
  • My father's first cousin is my first cousin once removed.
• The phrase can be used metaphorically to describe a very close relationship or similarity between things that are not identical.
  • This new software is a first cousin to the program we used last year.

Variants and Related Words

• Cousin (noun): Often used informally to mean "first cousin," though it can also refer to more distant cousins.
  • He's like a cousin to me. (Often implies a close, familial relationship similar to a first cousin.)
• Full cousin (noun): A less common synonym for "first cousin," emphasizing that both parents of the cousins are siblings.
• Second cousin (noun): The child of your parent's first cousin. You share a common set of great-grandparents.

Synonyms

• Cousin-german (noun, archaic): An old-fashioned term for a first cousin.
• Full cousin (noun): A synonym stressing the direct sibling link between the parents.

Related Phrases

• Kissin' cousin (idiom, informal): Refers to a distant relative or someone who is familiar enough to be greeted with a kiss. It sometimes humorously refers to a first cousin, especially in contexts where cousin marriage is discussed.
  • We're not strangers; we're practically kissin' cousins!

Notes

• In some legal and genetic contexts, the precise definition of "first cousin" is important for determining inheritance rights or assessing hereditary risk factors.
• The simple term "cousin" is frequently used where "first cousin" is meant, as it is the default assumption in everyday conversation.

Noun

1. the child of your aunt or uncle