breed of hound dog known for its sleek, well-muscled, and fine-boned racing physique; coat is short, fine-textured, and satiny; it may be any solid color or combination of colors and patterns; ears are small, pointed, held back from head, and semi-pricked when excited; tail is whiplike with a slight curve; eyes are almond-shaped, dark, and bright; adult stands 25–27 in. (64–69 cm) tall at shoulders and weighs 60–70 lbs (27–32 kg); high-spirited nature; keen eyesight; it is thought that ancestors date back to ancient Greece or ancient Egypt; breed was well-respected and well-known throughout ancient world and many civilizations fostered the breeding of this dog; once used extensively to hunt stags, foxes, and hare (its natural quarry) but modern prototype developed in Great Britain to race on dog tracks; a Welsh proverb states “You may know a gentleman by his horse, his hawk, and his greyhound”; name may be a corruption of “great hound,” ,