"Multiples" and singletons

Posted by ESC on July 12, 2001

In Reply to: Type of twin posted by Bob on July 12, 2001

: : What is the phrase used to describe siblings who are born within the same year and have the same age for a short time each year? It's "something" twins.

: Irish twins. Sometimes the definition is stretched to siblings born within 12 months, but not in the same year... but purists insist on the calendar year.

And the Irish might take offense to this term since it refers to a stereotype that the Irish have many children with their births closely spaced.

I don't know if I've mentioned this before...there is a term (singleton)for people who are born "alone." Another twin-related term is "super twins," for multiples beyond the twin "level."