pedigree
n. C / Un. the history of a person, animal, or idea that shows where it came from. It is often used to show that something has a high quality or a long tradition.
n. the recorded ancestry or lineage of a person or animal; by extension, the history and background of an object, idea, or institution. Often implies a distinguished or high-quality origin.
The puppy comes with a full pedigree showing its champion ancestors.
The new CEO has an impressive academic pedigree, having studied at several of the world's top universities.
The firm's long pedigree in international law gave the clients confidence that their complex cross-border dispute would be handled with the necessary expertise and historical perspective.
From Anglo-Norman pé de grue, a variant of Old French pié de gru (“foot of a crane”), from Latin pes (“foot”) + grus (“crane”).
Countable when referring to a specific family tree or record; uncountable when referring to the general concept of distinguished background.