pedigree
PED-ih-gree
/ˈpedɪɡriː/
The record of descent of an animal, showing it to be purebred; a distinguished or documented ancestry.
Often carries a connotation of high quality, exclusivity, or purity of lineage, particularly in dog, cat, and horse breeding.
The story behind the word. This word has a wonderfully visual history. It comes from the Middle French 'pié de grue', meaning 'foot of a crane'. Early genealogists drew family trees using a three-pronged mark that resembled a crane's footprint to show lines of descent. English speakers heard 'pié de grue' and turned it into 'pedigree'.
Word relationships
- lineage: 'Lineage' is a general term for ancestry, whereas 'pedigree' specifically implies a documented, often official, purebred record.
- ancestry: 'Ancestry' refers to all of one's forebears, while 'pedigree' focuses on the structured, certified family tree.
- mutt: An informal term for a dog of mixed or unknown breeding.
- mongrel: An animal of mixed breed, lacking a documented lineage.
Commonly confused with
- purebred: 'Purebred' is the adjective describing the animal's genetic makeup, while 'pedigree' is the actual recorded family tree document.
Word family
- pedigreed (adjective): Having a certified, purebred line of descent.
Collocations
- impeccable pedigree
- pedigree dog
- show pedigree
Example sentences
- "The champion poodle possessed an impeccable pedigree, with ancestors winning titles across Europe." A dog show commentary.
- "Buyers at the yearling auction were willing to pay millions based solely on the colt's pedigree." An article discussing horse racing.
Memory hook
Think of a crane's foot (ped-i-gree) stamping a family tree onto a document. A crane's foot draws the family tree.
When not to use
Avoid using it to describe a mixed-breed animal whose ancestry is unknown or highly varied.
Fun facts
- In genetics, a pedigree chart is used to track the inheritance of specific traits or diseases through multiple generations of a family.
Related words
Explore more words
lineage, dynasty, hereditary, prestige, ancestor, consanguinity
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