uncle

Multiple Entries:
  uncle    -uncle  

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
uncle/ˈʌŋkl/

▶noun

• 1 the brother of one's father or mother or the husband of one's aunt.

  ■ informal an unrelated adult male friend of a child's parents.

• 2 archaic, informal a pawnbroker.

– phrases
cry (or say) uncle N. Amer. informal surrender or admit defeat.

– origin ME: from OFr. oncle, from late L. aunculus, alt. of L. avunculus (see avuncular).

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
-uncle/ˈʌŋk(ə)l/

▶suffix forming chiefly diminutive nouns: carbuncle.

– origin from OFr. -oncle, -uncle, or from L. -unculus, a special form of -ulus.