ppl. a. and sb. [UNDER-1 10 a.]
1. Of inferior breeding or upbringing; wanting in polish or refinement; vulgar: a. Of persons.
1650. B., Discolliminium, 50. Our late … under-bred Committee-men.
1706. Farquhar, Recruiting Officer, V. Pray, Sir, dunna be offended at my Sister, she’s something under-bred.
1771. Goldsm., Haunch Venison, 37. An under-bred, fine-spoken fellow was he.
1825. T. Hook, Sayings, Ser. II. III. 154. The boisterous mirth of the under-bred village belle.
1885. Spectator, 30 May, 715/1. All the gentlemen and ladies he has to do with are just a little underbred.
Comb. 1824. Scott, Redgauntlet, ch. vi. Behind a long table … sat a smart, underbred-looking man.
b. Of manners or conduct.
1796. Mme. D’Arblay, Camilla, III. 209. The under-bred positiveness of her father.
1840. Willis, Loiterings of Trav., II. 161. Through his underbred politeness of insisting on following his host, I could see that he was unwilling to trust the outlaw with the rear.
1849. C. Brontë, Shirley, vii. His somewhat underbred manner and aspect.
2. Of animals: Not pure bred; of inferior strain.
1890. ‘R. Boldrewood,’ Col. Reformer (1891), 337. Australian horses … seem wretched underbred creatures.
b. sb. An underbred animal (esp. a horse).
1880. Encycl. Brit., XII. 198/1. When the thoroughbred is but cantering, the underbred will be doing his utmost.
1897. Times, 11 March, 12/2. At recent shows in Ireland he thought there were more under-breds than 15 or 20 years ago.
