Meaning of cousin late 1800's in Aberdeen

[BrisbaneHay]

Have copies of letters written late 1800's referring to "my cousin" and "your cousin" to/from child/youth-hood friends. Both educated Peterhead/Longside area.
Would the term cousin mean only your parents siblings children ,or, also include your parents cousins children ie. second cousins.
Thanks

[GordonFindlay]

My ag-lab ancestors certainly used a looser meaning than strict "First cousins" - sometimes referring to relatives of a similar generation to the writer living in the same small village or ferm-toun.

[Ian Nelson]

the original word 'cousin ' meant ' mother's sister's son'.  But it has also had a general meaning of any blood relative ... see here
https://www.etymonline.com/word/cousin

[Chilternbirder]

In large extended families "cousin", "aunt" and "uncle" were often pretty loose terms.

In SWMBOs line with large extended families, and wide age spreads among half siblings, we know form her mother that "cousin" was generally used for relatives of similar age even when they were technically aunts or uncles.

Even now my cousins once removed call me "uncle".

[Gadget]

Even now my cousins once removed call me "uncle".

Conversely, I called many cousins once/twice removed, of my parents' age, uncle or aunty.

[Skoosh]

Generally speaking a catch-all term for ones relatives in Scotland was your "friens!"

Skoosh.

[BrisbaneHay]

Thank you for your replies. Answer seems to be a close family member