mongrel

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]

• 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)

mongrel (plural mongrels)

1. (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.

2. (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.

• among

mongrel (comparative more mongrel, superlative most mongrel)

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