Legal Term: BRANCH

Definition: This is a metaphorical expression, which designates, in the genealogy of a numerous family, a portion of that family which has sprang from the same root or stock, these latter expressions, like the first, are also metaphorical.

2. The whole of a genealogy is often called the genealogical tree, and sometimes it is made to take the form of a tree, which is in the first place divided into as many branches as there are children, afterwards into as many branches as there are grand-children, then of great grandchildren, &c. If, for example, it be desired to have a genealogical tree of Peters family, Peter will be made the trunk of the tree, if he has had two children, John and James, their names will be written on the first two branches, which will themelves shoot out as many smaller branches as John and James have children, from these others proceed, till the whole family is represented on the tree, thus the origin, the application, and the use of the word branch in genealogy will be at once perceived.

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