pedigree
|ped/i/gree|
🇺🇸
/ˈpɛdɪˌɡri/
🇬🇧
/ˈpɛdɪɡriː/
documented lineage
Etymology
'pedigree' originates from Middle French, specifically the word 'pié de grue,' where 'pié' meant 'foot' and 'grue' meant 'crane,' referring to the shape of a crane's foot in genealogical charts.
'pié de grue' transformed into the English word 'pedigree' through Middle English.
Initially, it referred to the shape of a crane's foot in charts, but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'lineage or ancestry.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a record of descent or lineage, especially of a purebred animal.
The dog's pedigree showed a long line of champions.
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Noun 2
the history or provenance of a person or thing, especially as conferring distinction.
The company has a long pedigree of innovation.
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Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:42