half-blood

1 of 2

adjective

ˈhaf-ˈbləd How to pronounce half-blood (audio)
ˈhäf-
variants or less commonly half-blooded
: 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

Time Traveler
The first known use of half-blood was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near half-blood

half bishop

half-blood

half blood

Cite this Entry

“Half-blood.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/half-blood. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.

Legal Definition

half blood

noun
: the relation between persons having only one parent in common
also : a person so related to another

More from Merriam-Webster on half-blood

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