mongrel
English
Etymology
From Middle English mongrel, equivalent to mong (“mixture”) + -rel (pejorative diminutive); from Old English ġemong (“mingling”) (whence Modern English among), from Proto-Germanic *mang- (“mix”).[1]
Pronunciation
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 360: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "RP" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˈmʌŋ.ɡɹəl/, /ˈmɒŋ.ɡɹəl/
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 360: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "US" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˈmɑŋ.ɡɹəl/, /ˈmʌŋ.ɡɹəl/
Audio (AU): (file)
Noun
mongrel (plural mongrels)
- (often derogatory) Someone or something of mixed kind or uncertain origin, especially a dog.
- Synonyms: bitsa, bitser, (UK, Australia, New Zealand) bitzer, cur, mutt, (dialectal) tyke, Heinz 57
- Hyponym: (of a cat) moggy
- That dog is a mongrel; who knows what breed it could be!
- 2001 September 26, Anna Quindlen, “A Quilt of a Country”, in Newsweek[1]:
- America is an improbable idea. A mongrel nation built of ever-changing disparate parts, it is held together by a notion, the notion that all men are created equal, though everyone knows that most men consider themselves better than someone.
- (slang, Australia, New Zealand) A thuggish, obnoxious, or contemptible person; (often preceded by "poor") a pitiable person.
- Synonym: bastard
- 2008, Jim Brigginshaw, Over My Dead Body, page 77,
- "Yanto bloody Evans!" Jack stuttered with rage. "Yanto bloody Evans! That... that... bloody mongrel! D'you know who he is? He's the one who knocked me back for a bit of extra timber before the roof fell in on me!"
- 2019 October 27, Natalie Wolfe, “Australia's worst serial killer's affairs with sisters-in-laws”, in New Zealand Herald[2]:
- But somebody's got to tell these mums and dads why their kids died, why this mongrel thinks he can wipe them out like a dirty rag.
Related terms
Adjective
mongrel (comparative more mongrel, superlative most mongrel)
Translations
someone of mixed kind
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References
- ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “mongrel”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
Categories:
- English terms inherited from Middle English
- English terms derived from Middle English
- English terms suffixed with -rel
- English terms derived from Old English
- English terms derived from Proto-Germanic
- English 2-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English terms with audio pronunciation
- English lemmas
- English nouns
- English countable nouns
- English derogatory terms
- English terms with usage examples
- English terms with quotations
- English slang
- Australian English
- New Zealand English
- English adjectives
- en:Dogs
- en:People
- en:Multiracial