brethren-in-law
English
Alternative forms
- brethren in law
Etymology
From Middle English breþeren in lawe, equivalent to brethren + in + law.
Noun
brethren-in-law
- (archaic) Brothers-in-law
- 1997, David A. Chappell, Double Ghosts: Oceanian Voyagers on Euroamerican Ships, page 60:
- And if, occasionally, their superior position made these officers in times of emergency address their tattooed brethren-in-law in vigorous and uncomplimentary language, emphasized by a knockdown blow, no ill will was either felt on one side nor engendered on the other.
-