pedigree

/ˌpɛdəˈgri/

/ˈpɛdɪgri/

Other forms: pedigrees

The noun pedigree refers to the genetic background of an animal, although it is sometimes applied to people as well. A purebred dog, for example, comes with a verified pedigree, a list of all past parentage.

The preoccupation with pedigree isn't new — the concern for human pedigree can be seen in the Bible, where generations are meticulously recorded. Pedigree, referring to a genealogical chart, appeared in 1410 from the Anglo-French pe de gru, meaning "foot of a crane," referring to the chart’s tree — like lines, which looked like the print of a crane's foot. The importance of pedigree extends to animals such as dogs and horses, with breeders careful to follow the animal's lines to assure "purity."

Definitions of pedigree

1. noun

   the descendants of one individual
   synonyms: ancestry, blood, blood line, bloodline, descent, line, line of descent, lineage, origin, parentage, stemma, stock

   types:

   family, family line, folk, kinfolk, kinsfolk, phratry, sept

   people descended from a common ancestor

   side

   a family line of descent

   people

   members of a family line

   homefolk

   the people of your home locality (especially your own family)

   house

   aristocratic family line

   dynasty

   a sequence of powerful leaders in the same family

   gens, name

   family based on male descent

   type of:

   family tree, genealogy

   successive generations of kin
2. noun

   ancestry of a purebred animal
   synonyms: bloodline

   type of:

   ancestry, derivation, filiation, lineage

   inherited properties shared with others of your bloodline
3. noun

   line of descent of a purebred animal
   type of:

   breed, stock, strain

   a special variety of domesticated animals within a species
4. noun

   the history and background of someone or something, especially as a sign of quality, status, or legitimacy
   type of:

   position, status

   the relative position or standing of things or especially persons in a society
5. adjective

   having a list of ancestors as proof of being a purebred animal
   synonyms: pedigreed, pureblood, pureblooded, thoroughbred

   purebred

   bred for many generations from member of a recognized breed or strain