spaniel
Any of various small to medium-sized breeds of gun dog having a broad muzzle, long, wavy fur and long ears that hang at the side of the head, bred for flushing and retrieving game.
Noun
- Any of various small to medium-sized breeds of gun dog having a broad muzzle, long, wavy fur and long ears that hang at the side of the head, bred for flushing and retrieving game.
- A cringing, fawning person.
- Pro[theus].[…]Yet (Spaniel-like) the more ſhe ſpurnes my loue, / The more it growes, and fawneth on her ſtill; - c. 1590–1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Two Gentlemen of Verona”, in Mr. William...
Origin
From Middle English spaynol, from Old French espaigneul (modern French épagneul), from Old Occitan espaignol, from Vulgar Latin *Hispāniolus (“Spanish”), from Hispānia (“Spain”).
Forms
Derived
Boykin Spaniel Clumber spaniel cocker spaniel English toy spaniel field spaniel German Spaniel Irish water spaniel King Charles spaniel Norfolk spaniel spanieless spanielize spaniellike spanielship spoodle springer spaniel Sussex spaniel water spaniel
Verb
- To follow loyally or obsequiously, like a spaniel.
- Antony: Do we shake hands.—All come to this!—The hearts / That spaniel'd me at heels, to whom I gave / Their wishes, do discandy, melt their sweets - c. 1606–1607 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of...
- J. Sedgewick (1840), Timon, but not of Athens, page 200: “Always spanielling at the heels of power, the mitred Dignitaries displayed, from first to last, the most rancorous hostility against her.”
- David S. Bell (2000), Presidential Power in Fifth Republic France, →ISBN, page 30: “Hence Duverger's famous question about de Gaulle's first spanielling Prime Minister makes political ('M. Debré, existe-t-il?'), but not...