co-brother-in-law

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English

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Etymology

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From co- +‎ brother-in-law or co-brother +‎ -in-law.

Noun

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co-brother-in-law (plural co-brothers-in-law)

  1. (uncommon) One's spouse's brother-in-law (one's spouse's sibling's husband), especially one's wife's sister's husband; either of two (or more) men who marry sisters, in relation to the other; the brother of one spouse in relation to the siblings of the other spouse.
    • 2008, Daniel Bornstein, David Peterson, editors, Florence and Beyond: Culture, Society and Politics in Renaissance Italy, page 350:
      Knowing that he would be susceptible to the arguments of his persuasive co-brother-in-law Antonio de' Medici, Saminiato tried to avoid his company.
  2. (uncommon) One's brother-in-law's or sister-in-law's brother; that is, one's sibling's spouse's brother; either of two (or more) men whose siblings are married to each other.

Usage notes

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  • The term is generally used in translation in South India (Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh) where the local language makes the distinction. In common speech in traditionally English-speaking countries, brother-in-law may be used.
  • The primary usage is for one's wife's sister's husband.

Synonyms

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  • co-brother (Karnataka, Tamil Nadu) (much more common)
  • (secondary sense): co-uncle (in relation to a common niece or nephew)

Coordinate terms

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Translations

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Languages that have words for this relationship that are distinct from the word for brother-in-law. Not all are attested to have the second meaning above, though this may sometimes be an oversight.