— mongrelism, mongrelness , n. — mongrelly , adv.
/mung"greuhl, mong"-/ , n.
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.
adj.
4. of mixed breed, nature, or origin; of or like a mongrel.
[ 1425-75; late ME (once): heraldic term for a type of dog; equiv. to mong ( e ) mixture (OE gemang; cf. MINGLE) + -REL ]
Syn. 1. mutt. 2. cross, half-breed. See hybrid .
Ant. 2. thoroughbred, purebred.