co-sister-in-law

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English

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Etymology

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

Noun

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co-sister-in-law (plural co-sisters-in-law)

  1. One's spouse's sister-in-law, especially one's husband's brother's wife, one's brother's wife in relation to the spouses of his siblings; either of two (or more) women who are married to brothers, in relation to the other.
    • 1979, Paul Friedrich, editor, Language, Context, and the Imagination, page 193:
      [The Russian word] Yátrov', for the husband's brother's wife or co-sister-in-law, so diagnostic a status within the patrilocal household, has passed entirely out of the language.
    • 2006, Kalipatnam Rama Rao, translated by C.L.L. Jayaprada, Yagnam and Other Stories, page 61:
      At first the wench's second co-sister-in-law and the middle sister-in-law got into it.
  2. One's brother-in-law or sister-in-law's sister; one's sibling's spouse's sister; either of two (or more) women whose siblings are married, in relation to the other.

Usage notes

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Generally used in translation, or in countries such as India (Andhra Pradesh) where the local language makes the distinction. In common speech in traditionally English-speaking countries, sister-in-law may be used.

The primary usage is for one's husband's brother's wife.

Synonyms

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  • (Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana) co-sister
  • (secondary sense): co-aunt (in relation to a common niece or nephew)

Coordinate terms

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Translations

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

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.