nuncle

Etymology

From rebracketing of phrases an uncle, mine uncle, thine uncle, etc. Compare neam and naunt.

For the verb, OED suggests an evolution in sense "to claim to be one's uncle" > "to cheat". It compares this derivation with cozen, which it derives from cousin.

For the technical anthropological sense, compare nibling.

Pronunciation

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Noun

nuncle (plural nuncles)

(archaic or dialectal) Uncle.
- 1605, Shakespeare, King Lear:
  Fool: Prithee, nuncle, tell me whether a madman be a gentleman or a yeoman?
(linguistics, anthropology, in the study of kinship terminology) Aunt or uncle; sibling of a parent (regardless of gender).

Derived terms

nunky

Verb

nuncle (third-person singular simple present nuncles, present participle nuncling, simple past and past participle nuncled)

(England, regional) To cheat, deceive.

Anagrams

cunnel