>From the OED: 1. The son or daughter of (one's) uncle or aunt; (one's) first cousin; = COUSIN Now chiefly legal or technical. <However - also this:> 2. fig. A person or thing closely related or allied to another; a near relative. Formerly approaching the character of an adj.: cf. COUSIN Remember please that cousin had both its current meaning and a rather vaguer "blood relation of some sort" meaning. The quotes linked to item 2 seem to me to be somewhat figurative, e.g. 1711 ADDISON Spect. No. 13 {page}1 The Lion was a Cousin-German of the Tyger who made his Appearance in King William's days. 1822 W. IRVING Braceb. Hall (1849) 300, I had been apt to confound them [rooks] with their cousins-german, the crows. Adrian B -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Charani Sent: 01 October 2010 17:44 To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [B&D] Cousin German roger baynton wrote: > I'm not sure if 'Bristol & District' goes out as far as Lacock - > probably not, but my query is more of a genral genealogical nature and > refers to the Baynton family who eventually ended up in Bedminster sensibly brewing beer!! You're OK. Your family were in Bedminster and your query could help others who are puzzling over the same term. > But my query is, what is a "Cousin German " I think that it is the > same as a first cousin. Am I right. Is it just a term which has fallen > into disuse since the book was published in 1835 ? Yes, you're right: a cousin german is a first or full cousin. It does tend to be used in an historical context now. -- Charani (UK) OPC for Walton, Greinton and Clutton, SOM Asst OPC for Ashcott and Shapwick, SOM http://wsom-opc.org.uk http://www.savethegurkhas.co.uk/ ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message