Meaning
A mixed-breed dog of no particular pedigree — the common Jamaican street or yard dog. Used plainly for the ordinary dog most people own, and sometimes teasingly or dismissively of anything scruffy or of mixed origin. Distinct from the imported 'breed dog' that better-off households show off.
Examples
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A jus a mongrel wi have, but him faithful.
It's just a mongrel we have, but he's faithful.
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Di mongrel dem run up an dung di lane.
The mongrels run up and down the lane.
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Him nah want no mongrel, him want a breed dog.
He doesn't want a mongrel; he wants a pedigree dog.
Origin
From English 'mongrel' (mixed breed); the everyday word for the common Jamaican dog. See [[yard-dog]].
How it’s used
A mixed-breed/common dog; contrasted with an imported 'breed dog'. See [[yard-dog]].