nephew

[nef-yoo or, esp. British, nev-yoo] /ˈnɛf yu or, esp. British, ˈnɛv yu/

noun

a son of one's brother or sister.

a son of one's spouse's brother or sister.

an illegitimate son of a clergyman who has vowed celibacy (used as a euphemism).

Obsolete. a direct descendant, especially a grandson.

Obsolete. a remote male descendant, as a grandnephew or cousin.

Origin

1250-1300; Middle English neveu < Old French < Latin nepōtem, accusative of nepōs nephew, grandson; akin to Old English nefa, Dutch neef, German Neffe, Old Norse nefi; the pseudo-etymological spelling with ph has influenced pronunciation

Examples from the web for nephew

My nephew tried to be indiscreet about dating a student in a similar situation and it turned out to have horrible consequences.
The train blasts out a shrill whistle which my nephew imitates intermittently for the next couple of hours with piercing accuracy.
My nephew was in a serious accident caused by a driver running a red light.
She said she became worried about her nephew recently after he disappeared from contact.
Step-mom a lot younger than dad with nieces and nephew in the picture that will probably get my inheritance.
But a nephew of the sickly leader is also a nominee.
Travis' nephew removes trees by day but tinkers with all sorts of gadgets by night.
Family photos can go to family only, and a picture of my nephew playing bike polo can go to both.
My nephew is a physicist and another is a materials engineer.
But a nephew of the sickly leader is also among the approved nominees.

British Dictionary definitions for nephew

nephew

/ˈnɛvjuː; ˈnɛf-/

noun

a son of one's sister or brother

Word Origin

C13: from Old French neveu, from Latin nepōs; related to Old English nefa, Old High German nevo relative

Word Origin and History for nephew

c.1300, from Old French neveu (Old North French nevu) "grandson, descendant," from Latin nepotem (nominative nepos) "sister's son, grandson, descendant," in post-Augustan Latin, "nephew," from PIE *nepot- "grandchild," and in a general sense, "male descendant other than son" (cf. Sanskrit napat "grandson, descendant;" Old Persian napat- "grandson;" Old Lithuanian nepuotis "grandson;" Dutch neef; German Neffe "nephew;" Old Irish nia, genitive niath "son of a sister," Welsh nei). Used in English in all the classical senses until meaning narrowed in 17c., and also as a euphemism for "the illegitimate son of an ecclesiastic" (1580s). The Old English cognate, nefa "nephew, stepson, grandson, second cousin" survived to 16c.