mon·grel (mŭng'grəl, mŏng'-)
n.

1. An animal or a plant resulting from various interbreedings, especially a dog of mixed or undetermined breed.
2. A cross between different breeds, groups, or varieties, especially a mixture that is or appears to be incongruous.

adj.
Of mixed origin or character.

[Middle English, probably from mong, mixture, from Old English gemang.]

mongrelism mon·grel'ism n.
mongrelly mon'grel·ly adv.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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