saluki

noun

sa·​lu·​ki sə-ˈlü-kē How to pronounce saluki (audio)
: any of an ancient northern African and Asian breed of tall swift slender hunting dogs having long narrow heads, long silky ears, and a smooth silky coat

Illustration of saluki

Illustration of saluki

Examples of saluki in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In fact, one’s job or social status has long been signaled by the dog one owns, from the Pekingese of Chinese royalty to the saluki, the racing dog of Egyptian kings, the corgis of the late Queen Elizabeth II, and the sheep-guarding great Pyrenees. Pat Shipman, Scientific American, 8 Dec. 2022 Beau is a handsome 5-month-old golden saluki who is great with cats and dogs. Staff Report, Daily Southtown, 12 June 2018

Word History

Etymology

Arabic salūqī of Saluq, from Salūq Saluq, ancient city in Arabia

First Known Use

1809, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of saluki was in 1809

Dictionary Entries Near saluki

Cite this Entry

“Saluki.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/saluki. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on saluki

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!