Definition of "german"

The doubtfull wordes whereof they scan and canvas to an fro. Which done, Prometheus sonne began by counsell wise and sage His cousin germanes fearfulnesse thus gently to asswage:

1567 Arthur Golding trans., Ovid's Metamorphoses, Book 1, lines 460-2

After this Merlyn told vnto kynge Arthur of the prophecye / that there shold be a grete batail besyde Salysbury and Mordred his owne sone sholde be ageynste hym / Also he tolde hym that Basdemegus was his cosyn and germayn vnto kynge Vryence(please add an English translation of this quotation)

1485, Sir Thomas Malory, “xj”, in Le Morte Darthur, book II

The phrase would bee more Germaine.

c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act V, scene ii]

Wert thou a Leopard, thou wert Germane to the Lion.

c. 1605–1608, William Shakespeare, “The Life of Tymon of Athens”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act IV, scene iii]

Which when his german saw, the stony feare / Ran to his hart, and all his sence dismayd […]

1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto VIII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie

Through the years, though, the german was replaced by new and more popular dances, but in many instances the name stayed on.

1985, Betty Casey, Dance Across Texas, page 49