Salluki

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A breed of slender, swift hound originating in the Middle East, traditionally used for hunting by sight and known for its grace and endurance
2. A type of elegant desert dog prized for speed and agility, historically employed by nomads for chasing prey across open landscapes
3. A tall, lean hunting canine with a smooth coat, celebrated for its sharp vision and ability to pursue game in arid regions

Etymology: The name comes from Arabic "salūqī," a relative adjective meaning "of Saluq," a town that is usually placed in Yemen. Arabic speakers used the phrase for dogs of that place, and the dogs were valued for their speed, so the place name became the name of the breed. Sighthounds very like these appear in ancient Egyptian tomb art and in Mesopotamian reliefs, so the type is far older than the Arabic name. The English form arrived much later, and this is a case where the place-name origin, not the dog's appearance, gave the animal its name. Some older English writers also called these dogs "Persian greyhounds" or "Arabian greyhounds," reflecting the regions where traders and travelers encountered them.

Synonyms: saluki