saluki

Where does the word "saluki" come from? It comes from Arabic saluqi, and was adopted directly into English (1809).

Saluki’s story begins in Arabic: saluqi meant “of Saluq, a swift hunting dog.” Named for Saluq, an ancient city in Arabia associated with the breed. It reached English by 1809 as saluki. From Saluq, a town in Yemen; one of the oldest dog breeds, painted in Egyptian tombs. Today, saluki means a breed of tall, swift hunting dog with a silky coat, one of the oldest known dog breeds.

1. Stage 1 · Arabic · ancient saluqi "of Saluq, a swift hunting dog", named for Saluq, an ancient city in Arabia associated with the breed.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1809 saluki "sighthound breed", from Saluq, a town in Yemen; one of the oldest dog breeds, painted in Egyptian tombs.