Learn English – Why sister [nouns] and not brother [nouns]

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I have noticed this quite often that other (closely) related common nouns are called sister [common noun]. For example:

This question is off-topic here, but is on-topic on our sister site.

This issue can't be resolved here. You will have to visit our sister branch.

Monopoly Casino Sister Sites are listed in here.

ABC is the sister company of DEF.

…and many more.

Why does this kind of phrases/sentences make use of the feminine gender, but never the masculine gender, like brother sites? Did this somehow remotely got influenced by feminism movements? Because looking at this Ngram I can see that such phrases were not present in the old times of 1900 A.D and before.

Any insight on this topic will be warmly welcomed.

P.S: I mean no ill-intention when asking this question or mentioning about feminism movement. This just piqued my interest.

Best Answer

The Oxford English Dictionary shows that this usage goes back to at least the 1500s. It provides the following definition:

Appositive, with the sense ‘fellow’, ‘having a close kinship or relationship to another’; ‘belonging to the same class or group’. In linguistic contexts, denoting a parallel familial relationship (as between languages, dialects, etc.). With reference to places, institutions, etc., sometimes implying a more or less formal link.

Here are some examples of early usage:

  • 1570 J. Foxe Actes & Monumentes (rev. ed.) I. f. 363v/1 A sister Church one with an other, seekyng together ye glory of Christ.
  • 1611 J. Speed Hist. Great Brit. ix. x. 546/1 The right of our noble sister nation.
  • 1641 J. Milton Of Reformation 70 We must..come from Schisme to unity with our neighbour Reformed sister Churches.
  • 1679 J. Fell in J. Gutch Collectanea Curiosa (1781) I. 270 If we are justified, the advantage will extend to our Sister University.

This doesn't answer your question as to why "sister" is used, although if the usage was influenced by French or Latin, "church", "nation" and "university" are all feminine nouns in those languages.

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