half-blood

1 of 2

adjective

ˈhaf-ˈbləd 

ˈhäf-

variants or less commonly half-blooded

ˈhaf-ˈblə-dəd 

ˈhäf-

: related to or being a half blood

half-blood steers

half-blood bison females

Note: Use of the adjective half-blood to refer to a person having parents of different races (see race entry 1 sense 1a) is considered offensive.

half blood

2 of 2

noun

plural half bloods

1

a

: the relation between persons having only one parent in common

b

: a person so related to another

2

offensive : half-breed

3

: a domestic animal with one parent purebred and the other of inferior breeding : grade sense 4

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1608, in the meaning defined above

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Legal Definition

half blood

noun

: the relation between persons having only one parent in common

also : a person so related to another