ship's cousin
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
an esteemed or preferred passenger aboard ship.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
"You're a ship's cousin, I tell ye, Master Doo-but-little," roared the steward; "some such matter as a ship's cousin, sir.."
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “ship's cousin” mean?
an esteemed or preferred passenger aboard ship.
Is “ship's cousin” formal or informal?
ship's cousin is generally slang.