nephling

nephling

English

Etymology

Blend of nephew +‎ sibling.

Noun

nephling (plural nephlings)

1. (rare) A child of one’s sibling; niece or nephew.
   • 1843, Nathaniel Parker Willis, letter published in The Miscellaneous Works of N.P. Willis:

     My dear neph-ling: I congratulate you on the attainment of your degree as “Master of Arts.” […] Your affectionate uncle, Cinna Beverley.

   • 1992, United Bible Societies, The Bible Translator, vol. 43:

     One of my correspondents uses the idiolect form "nephlings" to refer collectively to her niece and nephew, but points out that even this derives from the masculine form.

   • 1998, “Charlotte L. Blackmer”, thread “Birthdays” on Internet newsgroup rec.food.cooking:

     June 19 is six days before mine. And 4 days after the nephling’s.

   • 2000, “Brian Mailman”, thread “When do Kids Talk?” on Internet newsgroup misc.kids.moderated:

     The nephling, now 4-1/2 is a second child also, and didn't speak more than a word or two until he was close to 3-1/2.

   • 2006, “Austin Shackles”, thread “Re: Whoo Hoo!” on Internet newsgroup free.beer.tomorrow:

     Tell us about the new nephling. […] She’s cute.

   • 2011, Mary Anderson, PhD, Jane Goodman, PhD, Nancy K. Schlossberg, EdD, Counseling Adults in Transition, Fourth Edition: Linking Schlossberg’s Theory With Practice in a Diverse World:

     A bachelor of our acquaintance describes his brother's children as his “nephlings.” This term is not only gender neutral, unlike niece or nephew, but implies a closer relationship with its connection to the word sibling.

Synonyms

• nibling