COUSIN

Kindred in the.fourth degree, · being the i ue (male or female) of the broth• er or sister of one's father or mother. Those who descend from the brother or siater of the father of the person spoken of ·are called "paternal cousins;" "maternal cousins" are those who are descended from the brothers or sisters of the mother. Coualns-german are first cousins. Sanders on "· ~ayley, 4 Myl & 0. 59. In IDnglish writs, commis.sions, and other formal instruments i ued by the crown, the word' signifies any l'eer of the degree of an earl. The appellation' is as ancient!1,8 the reign of. Hen17 IV., who, being related or· allied to every earl then in the kill.(dom. acknowle~ed that conneo-., [s. 298]