(~s)
1.
If a dog, cat, or other animal has a ~, its ancestors are known and recorded. An animal is considered to have a good ~ when all its known ancestors are of the same type.
60 per cent of dogs and ten per cent of cats have ~s.
N-COUNT
2.
A ~ animal is descended from animals which have all been of a particular type, and is therefore considered to be of good quality.
...a ~ dog.
ADJ: usu ADJ n
3.
Someone’s ~ is their background or their ancestors.
Hammer’s business ~ almost guaranteed him the acquaintance of U.S. presidents...
N-COUNT: oft poss N