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mongrel (n.)
mid-15c., "individual or breed of dog resulting from repeated crossings or mixture of several different varieties," from obsolete mong "mixture," from Old English gemong "mingling" (base of among), from Proto-Germanic *mangjan "to knead together" (source of mingle), from a nasalized form of PIE root *mag- "to knead, fashion, fit." With pejorative suffix -rel.
The distinction between a mongrel and a hybrid (a cross between two different breeds) is not always observed. Meaning "person not of pure race" is attested from 1540s. As an adjective, "of a mixed or impure breed," from 1570s.
updated on February 14, 2019
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Definitions of mongrel from WordNet
Dictionary entries near mongrel
monger
Mongol
Mongolian
Mongoloid
mongoose
mongrel
mongrelize
monicker
monies
moniker
moniliform