I am looking at it from a southern perspective, which puts a specific meaning on kin and blood relatives versus marriage relatives.
i don't think he is hearing that, I imported him from Cal.

Same legal obligation through marriage, not blood.

I mean, you'd have to kill a whole LOT of people in order to get the inheritance, so it's probably not worth worrying about.

It's just another couple bringing yet another hotdish to the family potluck, so we don't nitpick about it.

... if not "by marriage"? Your sister-in-law is your husband's sister, or your brother's wife; neither are blood relatives.

The term "in-law" speaks for itself. It means the relationship is not a blood relationship, but one established in law by way of marriage.

Leaving out the blood bit.. yes.
But my husband's sister in law is not MY sister in law, technically, is what I was trying to get across.
Or is she? how many "removes " does it go?

Don't even want to start with the cousins....

I misread your OP.

No, your husband's brother's wife is not your sister-in-law - although I think most people would refer to her as an "in-law".

Adding "by marriage" is redundant. You are not related to any of your in-laws by blood.

you want I should kick nitpicking Mr. dixie ass, dixiegrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrl? LEMME AT HIM!

will keep your offer in mind if there is a dispute over which way the paper towels hang.

install the holder vertically

under cupboard holder is what works best.

but hey, she can still be family if you choose her.

spent a lot of time w family this weekend, including my brother-in-law's brother and sister. the families were close for decades now, and certainly family of the heart, but yeah, we always acknowledge we are not "actually" related, just family.

His brother's wife IS your sister in law.

You and I are friends by

In the English language, brother in law means your spouse's brother, sister in law means your spouse's sister.

To be very picky, we don't have a separate name for the spouse of a brother or sister in law, but most people commonly refer to those as in laws.

What name would you prefer to use? My brother in law's wife? My sister in law's husband? Back when I was married, I considered all of those my in laws. Excluding them seems mean and petty.

"In the English language, brother in law means your spouse's brother, sister in law means your spouse's sister. "

Again, for the record, these people do not exist in our family. Was a "what if..."
l.

With one word that means "my mother's sister", another for my father's sister, yet another for "my mother's brother's wife", and so on.

It would be nice to have one word that tells us that sort of relationship.

I had an Uncle Vinnie who was: my mother's brother's wife's sister's husband. Because he was of that generation and because we saw him (and his wife and children) about as often as we saw all the other aunts, uncles, and cousins, he got the title. Oh, and for years he was the head elevator operator at the Empire State Building. Closest thing to a famous family member I'll ever have.

Several years back, at a large gathering of my husband's family, we met a woman I'll call cousin Lola. A few months later we got together with her for lunch and asked, "So how exactly are you related?" Turns out she wasn't at all, not even a connection as good as my Uncle Vinnie. We all got a nice chuckle out of that.

many people refer to that relationship as either a S-I-L or B-I-L.

Technically though....
There is no legal or blood relationship between you and her.
He is your brother-in-law because you are legally married to his brother and they have a blood relationship.
She is your brother-in-law's wife.
You and the B-I-L wife have neither legal or blood connection.

Thanks for the clarity...

I think it may have been inspired by a Robert Service poem:

MADAME LA MARQUISE
by
Robert William Service
Said Hongray de la Glaciere unto his proud Papa:
"I want to take a wife, mon Pere." The Marquis laughed: "Ha! Ha!
And whose, my son?" he slyly said; but Hongray with a frown
Cried: "Fi! Papa, I mean to wed. I want to settle down."
The Marquis de la Glaciere responded with a smile:
"You're young, my boy; I much prefer that you should wait awhile."
But Hongray sighed; "I cannot wait, for I am twenty-four;
And I have met my blessed fate: I worship, I adore.
Such beauty, grace and charm has she, I'm sure you will approve,
For if I live a century none other can I love."
"I have no doubt," the Marquis shrugged, "that she's a proper pet;
But has she got a decent dot, and is she of our set?"
"Her dot," said Hongray, "will suffice; her family you know.
The girl with whom I fain would splice is Mirabelle de Veau."

What made the Marquis start and stare, and clutch his perfumed beard?
Why did he stagger to a chair, and murmur: "As I feared"?
Dilated were his eyes with dread, and in a voice of woe
He wailed: "My son, you cannot wed with Mirabelle du Veau."
"Why not? my Parent," Hongray cried. "Her name's without a slur.
Why should you look so horrified that I should wed with her?"
The Marquis groaned: "Unhappy lad! Forget her if you can,
And see in your respected Dad a miserable man."
"What is the matter? I repeat," said Hongray growing hot.
"She's witty, pretty, rich and sweet... Then mille diables!... what?"
The Marquis moaned: "Alas! that I your dreams of bliss should banish;
It happened in the days gone-by, when I was Don Juanish.
Her mother was your mother's friend, and we were much together.
Ah well! You know how such things end. (I blame it on the weather.)
We had a very sultry spell. One day, mon Dieu! I kissed her.
My son, you can't wed Mirabelle. She is . . . she is your sister!!!"

So broken-hearted Hongray went and roamed the world around,
Till hunting in the Occident forgetfulness he found.
Then quite recovered, he returned to the paternal nest,
Until one day, with brow that burned, the Marquis he addressed:
"Felicitate me, Father mine; my brain is in a whirl;
For I have found the mate divine, the one, the perfect girl.
She's healthy, wealthy, witching, wise, with loveliness serene.
Ah! Proud am I to win a prize, half angel and half queen."
" 'Tis time to wed," the Marquis said. "You must be twenty-seven.
But who is she whose lot may be to make your life a heaven?"
"A friend of childhood," Hongray cried. "For whom regard you feel.
The maid I fain would make my bride is Raymonde de la Veal."
The Marquis de la Glaciere collapsed upon the floor,
And all the words he uttered were: "Forgive me, I implore.
My sins are heavy on my head. Profound remorse I feel.
My son, you simply cannot wed with Raymonde de la Veal."
The Hongray spoke with voice that broke, and corrugated brow:
"Inform me, Sir, why you demur. What is the matter now?"
The Marquis wailed: "My wicked youth! Ah! how it gives me pain.
But let me tell the awful truth, my agony explain . . .
A cursed Casanova I; a finished flirt her mother;
And so alas! it came to pass we fell for one another.
Our live were blent in bliss and joy. The sequel you may gather:
You cannot wed Raymonde, my boy, because I am . . . her father!!!"

Again, sore-stricken Hongray fled, and sought his grief to smother,
And as he writhed upon his bed to him there came his Mother.
The Marquise de la Glaciere was snowy-haired and frigid.
Her wintry features chiselled were, her manner stiff and rigid.
The pride of race was in her face, her bearing high and stately,
And sinking down by Hongray's side she spoke to him sedately:
"What ails you so, my precious child? What thongs of sorrow smite you?
Why are your eyes so wet and wild? Come, tell me, I invite you."
"Ah! if I told you, Mother dear," said Hongray with a shiver,
"Another's honour would, I fear, be in the soup forever."
"Nay, trust," she begged, "my only boy, the fond Mama who bore you.
Perhaps I may your grief alloy. Please tell me, I implore you."
And so his story Hongray told, in accents choked and muffled.
The Marquise listened, calm and cold, her visage quite unruffled.
He told of Mirabelle du Veau, his agony revealing.
For Raymonde de la Veal his woe was quite beyond concealing.
And still she sat without a word, her look so high and haughty,
You'd ne'er have thought it was her lord who had behaved so naughty.
Then Hongray finished up: "For life my hopes are doomed to slaughter;
For if I choose another wife, she's sure to be his daughter.
The Marquise rose. "Cheer up," said she, "the last word is not spoken.
A Mother cannot sit and see her boy's heart rudely broken.
So dry your tears and calm your fears; no longer need you tarry;
To-day your bride you may decide, to-morrow you may marry.
Yes, you may wed with Mirabelle, or Raymonde if you'd rather...
For I as well the truth may tell... Papa is not your father!!!"
The end

complete with diagram

as sil or bil. Even the one Republican bil/sil combo. It may only be through marriage but they are my family now.

1 : the sister of one's spouse
2 a : the wife of one's sibling
b : the wife of one's spouse's sibling

Merriam-Webster Dictionary.

So Mr. dixie's brother's spouse is a sister in law.

( actually, Mr. dixie's brother's spouse is a man, so ...I have 2 brother's in law from same married relationship)
or is it..brother-in-laws?

Now that we have settled that, looking forward to our next nit to pick.
Last week it was ..
did Schrödinger have a cat?

So yes you are correct, you have two brothers in law from the same married relationship, that is pretty cool.

I do a lot of genealogy, so I am always looking up kinship terminology.
It can be confusing.

Schrodinger had an open menage a trois, he lived with his legal wife and his mistress in the same home, along with the cat.

We don't know if Milton was both dead and alive.

"Milton"....

ty for that info......

Of course there may be some smarty-pants in the room who would say, "Wouldn't that be your sister?"

On edit: Never mind; I see the dictionary disagrees with me. I stand corrected.

You have two brothers-in-law. That much I DO know from my years as an editor.

My husband’s mother had a sister, now deceased. My husband’s brother’s wife had a father, now deceased. The two widowed people married (In their eighties, no less!).

Would it be proper to say my husband’s mother’s brother in law married my husband’s brother’s mother in law? 😀

That's why you don't need to say "by marriage" because it's understood.

Your sister-in-law can be either of 2 different things:
1. The sister of your husband
2. The wife of your brother

In either case, she's related to you by marriage. You don't have to say "by marriage" because we already know that she's not your sister. As long as the wonman is your HUSBAND's sister-in-law, then you can say she's your sister-in-law too.