cous·in (k?z??n)n.1. A child of one’s aunt or uncle. Also called first cousin.2. A relative descended from a common ancestor, such as a grandparent, by two or more steps in a diverging line.3. A relative by blood or marriage; a kinsman or kinswoman.4. A member of a kindred group or country: our Canadian cousins.5. Something similar in quality or character: “There’s no mistaking soca for its distant Jamaican cousin, reggae” (Michael Saunders).6. Used as a form of address by a sovereign in addressing another sovereign or a high-ranking member of the nobility.[Middle English cosin, a relative, from Old French, from Latin c?ns?br?nus, cousin : com-, com- + s?br?nus, cousin on the mother’s side; see swesor- in Indo-European roots.]cous?in·hood? n.cous?in·ly adj.cous?in·ship? n.American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.cousin (?k?z?n) n1. Also called: first cousin, cousin-german or full cousin the child of one’s aunt or uncle2. a relative who has descended from one of one’s common ancestors. A person’s second cousin is the child of one of his parents’ first cousins. A person’s third cousin is the child of one of his parents’ second cousins. A first cousin once removed (or loosely second cousin) is the child of one’s first cousin3. a member of a group related by race, ancestry, interests, etc: our Australian cousins. 4. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) a title used by a sovereign when addressing another sovereign or a nobleman[C13: from Old French cosin, from Latin cons?br?nus cousin, from s?br?nus cousin on the mother’s side; related to soror sister] ?cousin?hood, ?cousin?ship n ?cousinly adj, advCousin (French kuz??) n (Biography) Victor (vikt?r). 1792?1867, French philosopher and educational reformerCollins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014cous?in (?k?z ?n) n. 1. the son or daughter of an uncle or aunt. 2. one related by descent in a diverging line from a known common ancestor. 3. a kinsman or kinswoman; relative. 4. a person or thing related to another by similar natures, languages, geographical proximity, etc. 5. a term of address used by a sovereign for another sovereign or a high-ranking noble. [1250?1300; Middle English cosin soror sister) + *-?nos -ine1] cous?in?ly, adj. Random House Kernerman Webster’s College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.