Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Spaniel
Span′iel
,Noun.
[OF.
espagneul
, F. épagneul
, espagnol
Spanish, Sp. españnol
, fr. España
Spain, from L. Hispania
.] 1.
(Zool.)
One of a breed of small dogs having long and thick hair and large drooping ears. The legs are usually strongly feathered, and the tail bushy. See Illust. under
Clumber
, and Cocker
. ☞ There are several varieties of spaniels, some of which, known as field spaniels, are used in hunting; others are used for toy or pet dogs, as the Blenheim spaniel, and the King Charles spaniel (see under
Blenheim
). Of the field spaniels, the larger kinds are called springers, and to these belong the Sussex, Norfolk, and Clumber spaniels (see Clumber
). The smaller field spaniels, used in hunting woodcock, are called cocker spaniels (see Cocker). Field spaniels are remarkable for their activity and intelligence. As a
spaniel
she will on him leap. Chaucer.
2.
A cringing, fawning person.
Shak.
Span′iel
,Adj.
Cringing; fawning.
Shak.
Span′iel
,Verb.
I.
To fawn; to cringe; to be obsequious.
[R.]
Churchill.
Span′iel
,Verb.
T.
To follow like a spaniel.
[R.]
Webster 1828 Edition
Spaniel
SPAN'IEL
,Noun.
1.
A dog used in sports of the field, remarkable for his sagacity and obedience.2.
A mean, cringing, fawning person.SPAN'IEL
,Adj.
SPAN'IEL
,Verb.
I.
SPAN'IEL
,Verb.
T.
Definition 2024
spaniel
spaniel
See also: Spaniel
English
Noun
spaniel (plural spaniels)
- Any of various small 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.
- 1595: Shakespeare, William, The Two Gentlemen of Verona Act IV, Scene II
- Proteus: Yet, spaniel-like, the more she spurns my love,/The more it grows and fawneth on her still.
- 1595: Shakespeare, William, The Two Gentlemen of Verona Act IV, Scene II
Derived terms
Derived terms
|
Translations
dog
|
Verb
spaniel (third-person singular simple present spaniels, present participle spanielling or spanieling, simple past and past participle spanielled or spanieled)
- To follow loyally or obsequiously, like a spaniel.
- 1606: Shakespeare, William, The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra
- 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
- 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 185973376X, page 30: “Hence Duverger's famous question about de Gaulle's first spanielling Prime Minister makes political ('M. Debré, existe-t-il?'), but not constitutional sense.”
- Edward James and Farah Mendlesohn (2003) The Cambridge Companion to Science Fiction, ISBN 0521016576, page 65: “The genre which differed from the world in order to advocate a better one - or the genre which spanielled at heel the sensationalist virtual reality world we will now arguably inhabit till the planet dies - had become by 2000, in triumpth or defeat or both, an institution for the telling of story.”
- 1606: Shakespeare, William, The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra