Where does “uncle-in-law” come from?
uncle-in-law (English) comes from English Uncle, from Middle English uncle, from Old French uncle, from Latin avunculus, from Proto-Indo-European h₂éwh₂os — maternal grandfather; maternal uncle.
uncle-in-law (English): The husband of one's uncle or aunt (parent's sibling)
Definitions
- The husband of one's uncle or aunt (parent's sibling)
Ancestry of “uncle-in-law”, step by step
uncle-in-law traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English Uncle
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Uncle | radiotelephony clear-code word for the letter U |
| 2 | Middle English | uncle | uncle (brother of one's parents) |
| 3 | Old French | uncle | Alternative form of oncle |
| 4 | Latin | avunculus | maternal uncle, mother's brother; mother's... |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂éwh₂os | maternal grandfather; maternal uncle |
via English in-law
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | in-law | A relative by marriage (or through affinity) |
| 2 | English | -in-law | Related through marriage |
| 3 | English | mother-in-law | The mother of one's spouse; A mother-in-law... |
| 4 | Middle English | moder in lawe | mother-in-law |