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mongrelism

[muhng-gruhl, mong-]

Origin

noun

a dog of mixed or indeterminate breed.

any animal or plant resulting from the crossing of different breeds or varieties.

any cross between different things, especially if inharmonious or indiscriminate.

adjective

of mixed breed, nature, or origin; of or like a mongrel.

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Mongrelism is always a great word to know.

So is callithumpian. Does it mean:

a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison.

a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.

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Origin:
1425–75; late Middle English (once): heraldic term for a type of dog; equivalent to mong(e) mixture (Old English gemang; compare 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. 2012.
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Link To mongrelism

Collins

World English Dictionary

mongrel (ˈmʌŋɡrəl)

—n
1.	a plant or animal, esp a dog, of mixed or unknown breeding; a crossbreed or hybrid
2.	taboo a person of mixed race
3.	(Austral), (NZ) sport toughness and physical aggression: a tall southpaw with plenty of mongrel

—*adj*
4.	of mixed origin, breeding, character, etc

[C15: from obsolete mong mixture; compare Old English gemong a mingling]

'mongrelism

—n

'mongrelly

—*adj*

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

mongrel

late 15c., "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 1540s.

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