Emily Dickinson Lexicon

COUS'IN, n. [kuz'n; Fr. cousin. Qu. contracted from L. consobrinus, or consanguineus, or is it allied to the Persian خِوِبشْ related, kindred.]

1. In a general sense, one collaterally related more remotely than a brother or sister. But,
2. Appropriately, the son or daughter of an uncle or aunt; the children of brothers and sisters being usually denominated cousins, or cousin-germans. In the second generation, they are called second cousins.
3. A title given by a king to a nobleman, particularly to those of the council. – Johnson.