papillon
- 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.
Origin of papillon
Examples from the Web for papillon
Historical Examples of papillon
Miss Papillon called on us yesterday, looking handsomer than ever.
The Letters of Jane AustenJane Austen
Bombo, the name of a dog, supposed by Papillon to be the name of a wood-engraver, 337 n.
A Treatise on Wood EngravingJohn Jackson
Address it to Papillon (Eugene), driver, care of M. Trigault.
Monsieur Lecoq, v.1Emile Gaboriau
The young detective was hastening away, when Papillon called him back.
Monsieur Lecoq, v.1Emile Gaboriau
She adds to her gift the horse Papillon and his comrade Benoist.
The Fairy MythologyThomas Keightley
papillon
- a breed of toy spaniel with large ears
Word Origin for papillon
Word Origin and History for papillon
1907, as a breed of dog, from French papillon, literally "butterfly," from Latin papilionem (nominative papilio) "butterfly," perhaps from a reduplicated form of PIE root *pal- "to touch, feel, shake."
The Latin word is cognate with Old English fifealde "butterfly," Old Saxon fifoldara, Old Norse fifrildi, Old High German vivaltra, German Falter. The dog so called for the shape of the ears.