nieces and nephews

[lizdb]

but I could be wrong!!!! Cant remember where I got it from!

[little meg]

Just checked out the online dictionary-

Relative:
adj - having relevance to ..etc.
n. one related by kinship etc.

 
I think I am safe. 
Margaret

[lizdb]

Thanks! so I will have to forget that one!

[behindthefrogs]

It depends on which century you are asking about.  In the early eighteenth century and earlier there were sons and daughters (which included what we now call sons and daughters in law), sons and daughters in law (which we would now call step sons and step daughters) and grand children.  Everyone else of a younger generation who was related might be refered to as niece or nephew.  This could include adopted children who were not related as there was no formal adoption at that time.

These naming conventions could still be found in many places well into the latter half of the 19th century.

David

[molar]

How about Family 

[Comosus]

Found this while wandering around the internet: http://www.askoxford.com/asktheexperts/faq/aboutwords/siblings?view=uk

Andrew

[little meg]

Andrew,
thanks for that site, interesting that they once used the collective term - nephew for both sexes, even the word cousin.

Margaret