mon·grel   /ˈmʌŋgrəl, ˈmɒŋ-/ Show Spelled[muhng-gruhl, mong-] Show IPA
–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.
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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.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
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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
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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.Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper