Disparaging and Offensive. half-breed.
a person who has only one parent in common with another person, as a half sister or half brother.
the relationship between individuals having only one parent in common
an individual having such a relationship
a less common name for a half-breed
a half-blooded domestic animal
First recorded in 1545–55
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English half blod
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"I ask you this," cried Lawrence, "in the name of our mother, for you and I, Victor Broussard, are brothers of the half blood."
From Betty at Fort Blizzard by Seawell, Molly Elliot
Impediments.—Marriages between first cousins of the whole or half blood or relatives nearer of kin are prohibited.
From Marriage and Divorce Laws of the World by Ringrose, Hyacinthe
Prohibited Degrees.—Marriages between persons nearer of kin than second cousins of the whole blood or cousins of the half blood.
From Marriage and Divorce Laws of the World by Ringrose, Hyacinthe
Prohibited Degrees.—Marriage is forbidden between persons nearer of kin than first cousins, of the whole or half blood, computing by the rules of the civil law.
From Marriage and Divorce Laws of the World by Ringrose, Hyacinthe
The terms half blood, three-eighths blood, and quarter blood refer to the full-blooded Merino standard.
From Textiles For Commercial, Industrial, and Domestic Arts Schools; Also Adapted to Those Engaged in Wholesale and Retail Dry Goods, Wool, Cotton, and Dressmaker's Trades by Dooley, William H. (William Henry)
That subtext is brought home by a subplot involving a gay doctor who secretly performs abortions and operations to help the half-blood children of humans and fae pass as human.
From The Verge ● Aug. 15, 2019
Margaret Piraino, 24, dressed as Nymphadora Tonks, a half-blood witch, complete with rainbow hair and Potter-themed jewelry, attended the BookCourt party with her girlfriend, Laurel Detkin, a fellow Potter enthusiast.
From New York Times ● Jul. 31, 2016
In addition to replacing the N-word, Gribben changes the villain in "Tom Sawyer" from "Injun Joe" to "Indian Joe" and "half-breed" becomes "half-blood."
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 5, 2011
She might be having a conversation like this with some other half-blood long after I was dead, but Bianca would still look twelve years old.
From "The Titan's Curse" by Rick Riordan
The son of Dionysus who’d gone down fighting an enemy half-blood was wrapped in a deep purple shroud embroidered with grapevines.
From "The Battle of the Labyrinth" by Rick Riordan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
