second cousin

noun

1. a child of a first cousin of one's parent. Compare cousin ( def 1 ).

second cousin

noun

1. the child of a first cousin of either of one's parents

Word History and Origins

Origin of second cousin¹

First recorded in 1650–60

Idioms and Phrases

Something that is related or similar but not quite the same, as in This beef stew is second cousin to boeuf bourguignon . This expression transfers the literal sense of second cousin —that is, the child of the first cousin of one's mother or father—a usage dating from the mid-1600s.

Example Sentences

Barton was unaware of any living blood relatives until he recently discovered a second cousin through an ancestry website.

From BBC

It was eventually found again in a farmhouse above a fireplace "covered in smoke" by Windus's second cousin.

From BBC

The King - Lady Gabriella's second cousin - was not present at the funeral as he is not attending public events while he undergoes cancer treatment.

From BBC

Harald has repeatedly said he has no plans to abdicate, unlike his second cousin Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, who stepped down earlier this year.

From Seattle Times

When his second cousin and the longest-serving monarch in Europe, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, unexpectedly announced her abdication in December, it set off speculation about the king’s future.

From New York Times