sister-in-law
Also 5 sistir elawe, 7, 9 dial. sister-law, etc.
[See law n.1 3 c.]
a. The sister of one's husband or wife. b. The wife of one's brother. c. The wife of one's husband's or wife's brother.
| c 1440 Promp. Parv. 457/1 Syster yn lawe, as hows[bondes] syster, or wyfys syster, glos. Ibid., Syster yn lawe, broders wyyf, fratrissa. a 1450 Knt. de la Tour (1868) 35 The ladies husbondes brother was there, and sawe his suster-in-lawe a litelle asyde with a knight in a corner. 1483 Cath. Angl. 341/1 A Sistir elawe, socrus, nurus. 1535 Coverdale Ruth i. 15 Beholde, thy syster in lawe is turned backe vnto hir people. 1552 Bury Wills (Camden) 142 Item I geve..to mother Harvy, my syster in lawe, the thurde [gowne] w{supc}{suph} I last made. 1676 Hobbes Iliad xxii. 467 Her Sister-laws that stood about her nigh. a 1721 J. Sheffield (Dk. Buckhm.) Wks. (1753) II. 183 He mentions his Sister-in-law's being with child, as no little proof of his brother's kindness. 1779 Mirror No. 65, It was my wish to live with my sister-in-law in terms of the strictest friendship. 1820 Shelley Let. to Mary Gisborne 218 Some dozens of female friends, sisters-in-law, and cousins. 1838 Dickens Nich. Nick. iii, Now for my sister-in-law. |