blood brother

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English

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English Wikipedia has an article on:
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Etymology

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Particularly: “This concept refers to cultural practices in numerous locations; how did the wording originate in English?”

Noun

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blood brother (plural blood brothers or (obsolete) blood brethren)

  1. An unrelated male considered to share a brother-like relationship established by a ceremonial sharing of blood in some cultures.
    • 2017, Neil Gaiman, Norse Mythology, Bloomsbury Publishing, page 241:
      "He is a blood brother and an oath brother of Odin, highest of the gods."
  2. (by extension) An unrelated male considered to share such a strong relationship generally.
  3. A brother by blood: a brother-german or half-brother, as distinguished from step-brothers.

Derived terms

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Translations

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