Greyhounds are not grey.
Well, some greyhounds are grey. But others are befurred in other colors, yet aren’t called blackhounds, brownhounds, tan-and-white- hounds, greasy-rolled-in-the-neighbors’-garbage-hounds, or silver- hounds-with-glass-windows-and-windshield-wipers (oh, sorry,
Bill Brohaugh
7 80
those are the busses). The second syllable in greyhound is the venerable English word meaning “dog,” but the first syllable is not related to our word for somewhere-between-black-and-white. Grey is likely related, way back from Old English times, to the Old Norse word griey, meaning “bitch.” Therefore, “female hound” (in the technical and not the pejorative use of the word hitch). Another definition for griey seems to be “coward.” Therefore, “coward hound.” And a pretty successful coward hound, at that—one that can run away real fast, making greyhounds the canine version of scaredy- cats.
And, oh yeah, if you need me to explain that bloodhounds aren’t the color of blood, I suggest that perhaps you should stay away from the pooches and get yourself a pet rock.