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mongrel

 - 3 dictionary results

mon⋅grel

  [muhng-gruhl, mong-]
Use mongrel in a Sentence
–noun
1. a dog of mixed or indeterminate breed.
2. any animal or plant resulting from the crossing of different breeds or varieties.
3. any cross between different things, esp. if inharmonious or indiscriminate.
–adjective
4. of mixed breed, nature, or origin; of or like a mongrel.
Origin:
1425–75; late ME (once): heraldic term for a type of dog; equiv. to mong(e) mixture (OE gemang; cf. mingle ) + -rel

Related forms:
mon⋅grel⋅ism, mon⋅grel⋅ness, noun
mon⋅grel⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. mutt. 2. cross, half-breed. See hybrid.

Antonyms:
2. thoroughbred, purebred.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To mongrel
mon·grel   (mŭng'grəl, mŏng'-)   
n.  

  1. An animal or a plant resulting from various interbreedings, especially a dog of mixed or undetermined breed.

  2. A cross between different breeds, groups, or varieties, especially a mixture that is or appears to be incongruous.

adj.  Of mixed origin or character.

[Middle English, probably from mong, mixture, from Old English gemang; see mag- in Indo-European roots.]
mon·grel'ism n., mon'grel·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

mongrel 
1486, "mixed breed dog," from obs. mong "mixture," from O.E. gemong "mingling" (base of among), from P.Gmc. *mong- "mix." With pejorative suffix (cf. wastrel). Meaning "person not of pure race" is from 1542.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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