mongie

adj

British

(of a person) stupid, dull-witted, slow and clumsy. A 1970s derivation from mong, itself short for the pejorative 'mongol'. Both spellings of the word are pro-nounced with a hard 'g'. Like the noun, the adjective was mainly heard among schoolchildren. mongrel n

a.

a despicable person. This use of the standard word dates from the 1700s. It is now particularly prevalent in Australia and New Zealand.

► 'They call themselves journalists but they're a bunch of bloody mongrels.' (Recorded, Australian reporter, London, November 2004)

b.

Australian

a person of mixed race. A racist term of abuse since the 18th century.