MONGREL

cur, mongrel, mutt

(noun) an inferior dog or one of mixed breed

bastard, mongrel

(noun) derogatory term for a variation that is not genuine; something irregular or inferior or of dubious origin; “the architecture was a kind of bastard suggesting Gothic but not true Gothic”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

mongrel (plural mongrels)

(often, pejorative) Someone or something of mixed kind or uncertain origin, especially a dog.

Synonyms: bitsa, bitser, bitzer (UK, Australia, New Zealand), cur, mutt, tyke (dialectal), Heinz 57

Hyponym: moggy (of a cat)

(slang, Australia, New Zealand) A thuggish, obnoxious, or contemptible person; (often, preceded by "poor") a pitiable person.

Synonym: bastard

Source: Wiktionary


Mon"grel, n. Etym: [Prob. shortened fr. mongrel, and akin to AS. mengan to mix, and E. mingle. See Mingle.]

Definition: The progeny resulting from a cross between two breeds, as of domestic animals; anything of mixed breed. Drayton.

Mon"grel, a.

1. (Zoöl.)

Definition: Not of a pure breed.

2. Of mixed kinds; as, mongrel language.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

6 June 2025

PUNGENCY

(noun) wit having a sharp and caustic quality; “he commented with typical pungency”; “the bite of satire”


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