half-blooded
/'hɑ:fblʌdid/
Definition
- Adjective:
- (of animals) having only one purebred parent: Describes an animal that is the offspring of one purebred parent and one non-purebred parent, resulting in mixed ancestry within a specific breed context.
Usage and Examples
- Adjective:
- The farmer decided to keep the half-blooded calf because it showed good resilience.
- While not eligible for the purebred registry, the half-blooded horse was still very valuable for work.
Advanced Usage
- The term is primarily used in animal husbandry, breeding, and pedigrees. It is a technical descriptor of lineage rather than a general synonym for "mixed-breed."
- It can sometimes carry a neutral to slightly informal tone compared to more formal terms like "crossbred" in certain contexts, though it is a standard term.
Variants and Related Words
- Half-blood (noun): An individual, especially an animal, that is half-blooded.
- The litter included three purebreds and two half-bloods.
- Half-breed (noun, often offensive): A dated and now generally offensive term for a person of mixed racial ancestry. CRITICAL NOTE: This term is considered derogatory and should be avoided when referring to people. Its use is primarily historical or pejorative.
Synonyms
- Crossbred: Bred from parents of different breeds or varieties.
- Mixed-breed: Of mixed ancestry (a more general term).
Notes on Meaning and Usage
- The term "half-blooded" is specific and denotes a 50% lineage from a recognized purebred line. It is not a general term for any mixture.
- It is rarely, if ever, applied to people in modern English. Historical or literary uses referring to people are archaic and should be understood in their specific context. The appropriate modern terms are person-specific (e.g., biracial, multiracial).
Adjective
-
(of animals) having only one purebred parent
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