half-breed

American  

[haf-breed, hahf-] / ˈhæfˌbrid, ˈhɑf- /

noun

1. a contemptuous term used to refer to the offspring of parents of different racial origin, especially the offspring of an American Indian and a white person of European descent.

---

adjective

1. of or relating to such offspring.

half-breed British  

noun

1. offensive a person whose parents are of different races, esp the offspring of a White person and an American Indian

---

adjective

1. of, relating to, or designating offspring of people or animals of different races or breeds

Etymology

Origin of half-breed

An Americanism dating back to 1750–60

Example Sentences

Jews were not allowed to join the Hitler Youth, not even a Mischling, or “half-breed” child who had one non-Jewish parent, no matter how Aryan the child looked.

From Literature

He was afraid that Thornton would pass out of his life as Perrault and François and the Scotch half-breed had passed out.

From Literature

At the same time these shifts are strange to parse, since Alina slams up against bigotry — at various points rivals and snobs refer to her as a half-breed or a "rice-eater."

From Salon

She is told “you stink of the orphanage, half-breed,” referred to as a “rice eater” and is instructed to step to the back of the line after being recognized as half-Shu, among other indignities.

From Los Angeles Times

“In any half-breed home there were jars of coins and a wistful plan to buy back the land,” Dimaline writes, “one acre at a time if need be.”

From New York Times