- brother-in-law
- noun (plural brothers-in-law) Date: 14th century 1. the brother of one's spouse 2. a. the husband of one's sister b. the husband of one's spouse's sister
New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
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
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