spaniel

[ span-yuhl ]

noun

1. one of any of several breeds of small or medium-sized dogs, usually having a long, silky coat and long, drooping ears.
2. a submissive, fawning, or cringing person.

spaniel

/ ˈspænjəl /

noun

1. any of several breeds of gundog with long drooping ears, a silky coat, and formerly a docked tail See clumber spaniel cocker spaniel field spaniel springer spaniel Sussex spaniel water spaniel
2. either of two toy breeds of spaniel See King Charles spaniel
3. an obsequiously devoted person

Other Words From

• spaniel·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of spaniel¹

1350–1400; Middle English spaynel < Old French espaignol Spanish (dog), derivative of Espaigne Spain

Word History and Origins

Origin of spaniel¹

C14: from Old French espaigneul Spanish (dog), from Old Provençal espanhol, ultimately from Latin Hispāniolus Spanish

Example Sentences

The couple's pet dog - believed to be a cocker spaniel - had also been shot.

From BBC

The couple's pet dog - believed to be a cocker spaniel - had been shot and a rifle was recovered from the property by the police.

From BBC

On Sunday, West Midlands Police paid tribute to three of its "digi dogs", spaniels which help search for devices such as mobile phones, SIM cars and memory sticks, which can often be important evidence.

From BBC

In October, the couple found out that their first child soon will join the family, which includes a chihuahua and a cocker spaniel mix rescue dog.

From Los Angeles Times

He was inseparable from his beloved dog Marley, a small spaniel named after Reggae icon Bob Marley.

From BBC