Hybridise is a wordsmith's dream, a fusion of two words that creates something even more magical. We all use it all the time, but what does hybridise actually mean?

The word hybridise comes from the Latin word hybridus, meaning "a composition of different elements", and the French word hibou, meaning "a kind of woodpecker". The word first appeared in English in the early 18th century, and was first used in reference to plants.