brother in law

brother in law
brother in law c.1300; also brother-in-law; see BROTHER (Cf. brother). In Arabic, Urdu, Swahili, etc., brother-in-law, when addressed to a male who is not a brother-in-law, is an extreme insult, with implications of "I slept with your sister."

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Brother-in-law — Broth er in law , n.; pl. {Brothers in law}. The brother of one s husband or wife; also, the husband of one s sister; sometimes, the husband of one s wife s sister. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • brother-in-law — n plural brothers in law 1.) the brother of your husband or wife 2.) the husband of your sister 3.) the husband of your husband or wife s sister →↑sister in law …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • brother-in-law — means (1) one s wife s or husband s brother, (2) one s sister s husband, (3) one s sister in law s husband. The plural is brothers in law …   Modern English usage

  • brother-in-law — ► NOUN (pl. brothers in law) 1) the brother of one s wife or husband. 2) the husband of one s sister or sister in law …   English terms dictionary

  • brother-in-law — brother in ,law (plural brothers in ,law) noun count 1. ) the brother of your husband or wife 2. ) your sister s husband 3. ) the husband of your husband s sister, or of your wife s sister …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • brother-in-law — [bruth′ərin lô΄] n. pl. brothers in law 1. the brother of one s husband or wife 2. the husband of one s sister 3. the husband of the sister of one s wife or husband …   English World dictionary

  • Brother-in-law — A brother in law is one s sister s husband, or one s spouse s brother. One s spouse s sister s husband is also considered a brother in law. [ [http://www.m w.com/dictionary/brother in law Merriam Webster dictionary entry] ] [… …   Wikipedia

  • brother-in-law — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms brother in law : singular brother in law plural brothers in law 1) the brother of your husband or wife 2) your sister s husband 3) the husband of your husband s sister, or of your wife s sister …   English dictionary

  • brother-in-law — noun /ˈbrʌð.ɚ.ɪn.lɔː/ a) A male relative of ones generation, separated by one degree of marriage: b) Co brother in law: A male relative of ones generation, separated by two degrees of marriage: See Also: daughter in law, father in law, mother in… …   Wiktionary

  • brother-in-law — brothers in law N COUNT: usu poss N Someone s brother in law is the brother of their husband or wife, or the man who is married to their sister …   English dictionary

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