What does borzoi mean?
A borzoi is a large breed of domestic dog belonging to the sighthound group, developed in Russia to hunt wolves by sight rather than scent. It is strikingly built, standing tall and narrow with long legs, a deep chest, an arched loin, a long refined head, and a soft silky coat that may be flat, wavy, or curly. Once known in English as the Russian wolfhound, it was favoured by the Russian aristocracy, who used packs of these dogs in grand ceremonial hunts before the breed spread to Western Europe and America in the late nineteenth century. Today the borzoi is kept chiefly as a show dog and companion, admired for its quiet, gentle temperament and graceful, flowing movement. The word comes from the Russian 'borzyy', meaning swift or quick, reflecting the speed that makes this breed such an effective hunter.
nounA tall, slender breed of dog of the hound type, originally bred in Russia for hunting wolves by sight, known for its long narrow head and silky coat.
- A large Russian breed of sighthound, formerly called the Russian wolfhound, bred to hunt wolves by sight.
"The borzoi loped gracefully across the field, its long legs covering the ground in effortless strides."
"Her borzoi stretched out on the sofa, occupying nearly the entire length of it."
"At the dog show, the elegant borzoi drew admiring glances from the crowd."
The anglicized plural 'borzois' is most common in everyday English; the unchanged form 'borzoi' is also accepted as a collective or invariant plural.
"Several borzois were entered in the hound group at the kennel club show."
The borzoi was once so prized by Russian nobility that hunting wolves with them became a national spectacle involving dozens of dogs at a time.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of borzoi
The word 'borzoi' was borrowed directly from Russian 'borzóy', the masculine adjective 'borzyy' meaning 'swift' or 'quick', applied substantively to the breed. The term entered English in the late nineteenth century as Russian dogs were exported abroad. In English the breed had previously been called the Russian wolfhound; the Russian-derived name became standard during the twentieth century.
How borzoi is actually used
The plural is commonly 'borzois', though 'borzoi' is also used as an invariant plural. The breed was officially renamed from 'Russian wolfhound' after the Russian Revolution, and the older name remains widely understood.
Easily confused with borzoi
The Saluki is a Middle Eastern sighthound with feathered ears and a smooth or feathered coat, while the borzoi is a much larger Russian breed with a long narrow head and a distinctive curved profile.