mongrel

Etymology

From Middle English mongrel, equivalent to mong (“mixture”) +‎ -rel (pejorative diminutive); from Old English ġemong (“mingling”) (whence Modern English among), from Proto-Germanic *mang- (“mix”).^[1]

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈmʌŋ.ɡɹəl/, /ˈmɒŋ.ɡɹəl/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈmɑŋ.ɡɹəl/, /ˈmʌŋ.ɡɹəl/

Noun

mongrel (plural mongrels)

1. (often pejorative) Someone or something of mixed kind or uncertain origin; especially, a dog that is such.

   That dog is a mongrel, who knows what breed it could be!

2. (slang, Australia, New Zealand) A thuggish, obnoxious, or contemptible person; (often preceded by "poor") a pitiable person.
   • This poor mongrel's sitting in a bar, you see... (Maurie Fields)
   • 2008, Jim Brigginshaw, Over My Dead Body, page 77,

     "Yanto bloody Evans!" Jack stuttered with rage. "Yanto bloody Evans! That... that... bloody mongrel! D'you know who he is? He's the one who knocked me back for a bit of extra timber before the roof fell in on me!"

References