Cousins
/ˈkʌz.ənz/noun
Plural of cousin: a child of one’s uncle or aunt, or more generally a relative descended from a common ancestor.
Did you know?In medieval Latin, the ancestor of “cousin” was used so broadly for kinship that it could refer to several kinds of relatives, showing how family words once carried legal power, not just affection.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
consobrinus
“A maternal cousin; more broadly, a close relative through the mother’s side.”
Old French
Old French
cousin
“A relative, especially a cousin; later narrowed in sense.”
Middle English
English
cosin
“A cousin or kinsman.”
15th-16th Century
English
cousyn / cousin
“The modern kinship term becomes standardized in English.”
Modern English
English
cousin
“A child of one’s aunt or uncle; by extension, a relative more generally.”