Chapter Coup de Grace to Coute que Coute of C by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Cousin Blackstone says that Henry IV., being related or allied to every earl in the kingdom, artfully and constantly acknowledged the connection in all public acts. The usage has descended to his successors, though the reason has long ago failed. (Commentaries, i. 398.)

Cousin All peers above the rank of baron are officially addressed by the Crown as cousin.
   A viscount or earl is "Our right trusty and well-beloved cousin."
   A marquis is "Our right trusty and entirely-beloved cousin."
   A duke is "Our right trusty and right-entirely-beloved cousin."

Cousin Betsy A half-witted person, a "Bess of Bedlam" (q.v.).

"[None] can say Foster's wronged him of a penny, or gave short measure to a child or a cousin Betsy." - Mrs. Gaskell.

Cousin-german The children of brothers and sisters, first cousins; kinsfolk. (Latin, germánus, a brother, one of the same stock.)

"There is three cozen-germans that has cozened all the hosts of Reading, of Maidenhead, of Colebrook, of horses and money." - Shakespeare: Merry Wives of Windsor, iv.5.

Cousin Jack So Cornishmen are called in the western counties.

Cousin Michael (or Michel). The Germans are so called. Michel, in Old German, means "gross," cousin Michel is meant to indicate a slow, heavy, simple, unrefined, coarse-feeding people.

Coute que Coute (French). Cost what it may, at any price, be the consequences what they may.

"His object is to serve his party coûte que coûte." - Standard.