SPANIEL
spaniel
(noun) any of several breeds of small to medium-sized gun dogs with a long silky coat and long frilled ears
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
spaniel (plural spaniels)
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.
Verb
spaniel (third-person singular simple present spaniels, present participle spanieling or spanielling, simple past and past participle spanieled or spanielled)
To follow loyally or obsequiously, like a spaniel.
Anagrams
• Espinal, Lapines, Nepalis, alpines, pin seal, pineals, pleasin', splenia
Source: Wiktionary
Span"iel, n. Etym: [OF. espagneul, F. Ă©pagneul, espagnol Spanish, Sp.
españnol, fr. España Spain, from L. Hispania.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Definition: 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.
Note: 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, a.
Definition: Cringing; fawning. Shak.
Span"iel, v. i.
Definition: To fawn; to cringe; to be obsequious. [R.] Churchill.
Span"iel, v. t.
Definition: To follow like a spaniel. [R.]
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition