pedigree

The story

1. Anglo-Norman · derived frompé de grue
2. English todaypedigree

From Anglo-Norman pé de grue, a variant of Old French pié de gru (“foot of a crane”), from Latin pes (“foot”) + grus (“crane”).

First known use, by meaning

• from 15th c. A chart, list, or record of ancestors, to show breeding, especially distinguished breeding.
• from 15th c. A person's ancestral history; ancestry, lineage.
• from 15th c. Good breeding or ancestry.
• from 16th c. The history or provenance of an idea, custom etc.
• from 17th c. The ancestry of a domesticated animal, especially a dog or horse.