Main Entry: mon·grel

Pronunciation: \ˈmäŋ-grəl, ˈməŋ-\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English, probably from mong mixture, short for ymong, from Old English gemong crowd — more at among

Date: 15th century

1 : an individual resulting from the interbreeding of diverse breeds or strains; especially : one of unknown ancestry
2 : a cross between types of persons or things

— mongrel adjective

— mon·grel·i·za·tion \ˌmäŋ-grə-lə-ˈzā-shən, ˌməŋ-\ noun

— mon·grel·ize \ˈmäŋ-grə-ˌlīz, ˈməŋ-\ transitive verb