Produced by breeding two animals or plants of different varieties or breeds together.
Past participle of 'crossbreed,' from 'cross' (Old French 'crois', meaning opposite or diagonal) + 'bred' (Old English 'bredan', to nourish or raise). The term emerged in livestock breeding in the 18th-19th centuries.
Crossbred animals often display 'hybrid vigor'—they're actually stronger and healthier than their purebred parents because genetic diversity combats inherited weaknesses, which is why farmers have created crossbred cattle, crops, and dogs for thousands of years!
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