hybrid

Where does the word "hybrid" come from? It comes from Latin hybrida, and was adopted directly into English (1600s).

Hybrid’s story begins in Latin: hybrida meant “mongrel.” Offspring of a tame sow and wild boar, possibly influenced by Greek 'hybris'. It reached English by 1600s as hybrid. 'hybrid' cars date from the 1990s. Today, hybrid means the offspring of two different species.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient hybrida "mongrel", offspring of a tame sow and wild boar, possibly influenced by Greek 'hybris'.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1600s hybrid "crossbreed", 'hybrid' cars date from the 1990s.