Mudblood

[corinthum]

No: HPFGUIDX 72991

RocketGranny asked:

> Where in cannon does it say that MUDBLOOD means BOTH parents are 
> muggles? And if you're a half-blood: one magical parent and one 
> muggle parent ... wouldn't this qualify you for the (derogatory) 
> mudblood label? 

"'Mudblood's a really foul name for someone who is Muggle-born-- you
know, non-magic parents....'" (CoS p. 115 US paperback).

I'd say the use of the plural here seems to indicate that Muggle-born
is only used when both parents are Muggles, and that the term mudblood
is used almost exclusively to insult Muggle-borns.

However, you have to keep in mind that "Mudblood" is not a precisely
defined scientific term.  It's a highly offensive, very derogatory
slur, used only by people who feel ancestry is important in
determining a person's character.  

The extent to which the term can be applied depends on the level of
hatred and ingnorance of the user.  The die-hard pureblood supporters,
like Bellatrix Lestrange and the Malfoys, would probably say it
applies to anyone who is not 100% pureblood, although they seem to use
it most often with Muggle-borns.  However, I'm sure there are some
witches and wizards out there who don't really believe in pureblood
superiority, but are disgusted by/angered by/simply disdainful of
Muggles, and this dislike extends as far as their using a slur when
angered or frustrated by a Muggle-born witch or wizard.

The reason the term "mudblood" is so vague is that it really has no
purpose.  It doesn't indicate anything measurable about a witch or
wizard.  It's like trying to define the n-word.  Is there a certain
number of black ancestors required before the term can be used?  Of
course not.  It's a horribly offensive term used by ignorant people to
indicate a nonexistent flaw in another person.  Hardly quantifyable.

The term half-blood is pretty all-encompassing because it is equally
meaningless.  It only indicates a lack of another meaningless stereotype.

So, my conclusion:

In the eyes of a normal, intelligent witch or wizard:  
   pureblood = both parents magical, regardless of other ancestors
   half-blood = one parent magical, on parent Muggle
   Muggle-born = both parents Muggles

In the eyes of the ignorant, discriminating witch or wizard:
   pureblood = no Muggle anywhere in ancestry
   Muggle-born = both parents Muggles
   half-blood = anything else
   Mudblood = slur for non-purebloods, usually used on Muggle-borns

-Corinth