Jump To:

• half blood
  half blood

  noun

  the relation between persons having only one common parent.
• half-blood
  half-blood

  noun

  half-breed.

half blood

¹ American  

noun

1. the relation between persons having only one common parent.

---

half-blood ² American  

[haf-bluhd, hahf-] / ˈhæfˌblʌd, ˈhɑf- /

noun

1. Disparaging and Offensive. half-breed.

2. a person who has only one parent in common with another person, as a half sister or half brother.

---

half-blood British  

noun

1. 1. the relationship between individuals having only one parent in common

   2. an individual having such a relationship

2. a less common name for a half-breed

3. a half-blooded domestic animal

---

Etymology

Origin of half blood¹

First recorded in 1545–55

Origin of half-blood²

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English half blod

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

half blood half-blood

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 William H. (William Henry) Dooley

Prohibited Degrees.—Marriage between ascendants and descendants, between brothers and sisters, of whole or half blood, between uncles and aunts, and nieces and nephews are void.

From Marriage and Divorce Laws of the World by Hyacinthe Ringrose

On a low rise of brown gravel, Mahmoud, the Circassian naqeeb in charge of their training troop, sat astride a sleek brown Arab half blood.

From The Saracen: Land of the Infidel by Robert Shea

Prohibited Degrees.—Marriage is prohibited between persons nearer of kin than second cousins, whether of the whole or half blood, computing by the rules of the civil law.

From Marriage and Divorce Laws of the World by Hyacinthe Ringrose

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 Hyacinthe Ringrose

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

The two half-blood kids, Bianca and Nico, were no longer there.

From "The Titan's Curse" by Rick Riordan

Too much of it would make a half-blood very, very feverish.

From "The Lightning Thief" by Rick Riordan