branch

A line of descent from a common ancestor; one of the divisions of a legislative body; a creek or small stream tributary to a larger stream or river; a subordinate part. A will establishing a trust and providing "If, at the time of the termination of said trust, any of the three branches of my family as represented by my three children, should have become extinct, then the branches of my family represented by issue or descendants shall take the said estate in equal proportions" will be interpreted to mean direct branches or surviving issue or descendants of his children, rather than collateral branches not mentioned in the will, where such provision appears to have been inserted merely to amplify and reaffirm such an intention clearly disclosed by prior privi- sions. Dennis v Omaha Nat. Bank, 153 Neb 865, 46 NW2d 606, 27 ALR2d 674.