Random question

[jethrien]

Brought on by a book I'm reading:

Say your mother has two children by two different fathers, you and your half-brother X. (Your father is A, your half-brother's father is B.) And your half-brother's father has two children by two different mothers, X and his half-sister Y. (You and your half-brother's mother is C, your half-brother's half-sister's father is B and mother is D.) And no one was married to anyone listed. What is Y to you? I mean, biologically, nothing, I suppose. And legally, nothing either, I think. But X is brother to both you and Y. What would you call that?

Comments

[chuckro.livejournal.com]

Your half-brother's half-brother, I suppose.

I suspect, to save time and explanation among friends (assuming you were of similar age and moved in similar circles), you'd either call him your brother or your cousin, depending on how close you were.

[edgehopper.livejournal.com]

I prefer "your quarter-brother", if only for the amusement value.

[jethrien.livejournal.com]

I'd actually thought of that one.