papillon

[ pap-uh-lon; French pa-pee-yawn ]

/ ˈpæp əˌlɒn; French pa piˈyɔ̃ /

noun, plural pap·il·lons [-lonz; French pa-pee-yawn] /-ˌlɒnz; French pa piˈyɔ̃/.

one of a breed of toy spaniels having a long, silky coat and large, erect ears held so that they resemble the wings of a butterfly.

Words nearby papillon

papilloma, papilloma virus, papillomatosis, papillomatous, papillomavirus, papillon, papilloretinitis, papillose, papillote, papillotomy, papinian

Origin of papillon

1905–10; < French: butterfly < Latin pāpiliōn- (stem of pāpiliō)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for papillon

Such a letter helps us to realise the loss suffered by France from the exile of men like Papillon.
The Anglo-French Entente in the Seventeenth Century|Charles Bastide
It was probably the essays of Papillon that provoked curious experiments on the part of other wood engravers.
The Printed Book|Henri Bouchot
The learned Zani had, in truth, his own reasons for taking Papillon at his word.
Engraving: Its Origin, Processes, and History|Henri Delaborde
The young detective was hastening away, when Papillon called him back.
Monsieur Lecoq, v.1|Emile Gaboriau

She adds to her gift the horse Papillon and his comrade Benoist.
The Fairy Mythology|Thomas Keightley

British Dictionary definitions for papillon

papillon

/ (ˈpæpɪˌlɒn) /

noun

a breed of toy spaniel with large ears

Word Origin for papillon

French: butterfly, from Latin pāpiliō

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012