spaniel

== English == === Etymology === From Middle English spaynol, from Old French espaigneul (modern French épagneul), from Old Occitan espaignol, from Vulgar Latin *Hispāniolus (“Spanish”), from Hispānia (“Spain”). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈspænjəl/ IPA(key): (obsolete) /ˈspænəl/ Rhymes: -ænjəl === 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. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Descendants ==== → Dutch: spaniël ==== Translations ==== === Verb === spaniel (third-person singular simple present spaniels, present participle (US) spanieling or (UK) spanielling, simple past and past participle (US) spanieled or (UK) spanielled) (intransitive) To follow loyally or obsequiously, like a spaniel. 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 constitutional sense.” Edward James and Farah Mendlesohn (2003), The Cambridge Companion to Science Fiction, →ISBN, page 65: === Anagrams === Espinal, Lapines, Nepalis, Spinale, alpines, pin seal, pineals, pinseal, pleasin', splenia == Portuguese == === Noun === spaniel m (plural spaniels) spaniel (any of several dog breeds bred to flush out game) == Spanish == === Noun === spaniel m (plural spaniels or spaniel) a spaniel == Swedish == === Noun === spaniel c A spaniel. === Anagrams === apelsin, spela in