spaniel

[ span-yuhl ]

/ ˈspæn yəl /

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noun

one of any of several breeds of small or medium-sized dogs, usually having a long, silky coat and long, drooping ears.

a submissive, fawning, or cringing person.

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Origin of spaniel

1350–1400; Middle English spaynel<Old French espaignolSpanish (dog), derivative of EspaigneSpain

OTHER WORDS FROM spaniel

span·iel·like, adjective

Words nearby spaniel

spang, spangle, spangled glass, Spanglish, Spaniard, spaniel, Spanish, Spanish America, Spanish American, Spanish-American War, Spanish Arabic

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use spaniel in a sentence

The plums came off the trees hot from the sun, and I had a cocker spaniel puppy that followed me everywhere I went.
The Stacks: A Dog Dies, a Boy Grows Up|Pete Dexter|June 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
If the cocker spaniel has to be booted out, then the cocker spaniel has to be booted out.
Is Lupo Jealous of George?|Tom Sykes|January 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Perhaps more insulting than if she'd been another woman, Samantha was Altman's cocker spaniel.
The World’s 12 Richest Dogs|The Daily Beast|June 18, 2010|DAILY BEAST
You've got a splendid chance can spend what you like and rule in society and he'll subside into a tame spaniel.
Elster's Folly|Mrs. Henry Wood

A tiny spaniel lay beside the fire, his beady black eyes following the nervous movements of the master of the house.
Dope|Sax Rohmer
Suddenly the spaniel leapt up with that feverish, spider-like activity of the toy species and began to bark.
Dope|Sax Rohmer
The driver stopped of his own accord, and inquired what had happened, and then they saw that it was a spaniel that was hurt.
Minnie's Pet Monkey|Madeline Leslie
The spaniel held the great dog in awe, and never but once was known to go to the stable to see him.
Minnie's Pet Dog|Madeline Leslie

British Dictionary definitions for spaniel

spaniel

/ (ˈspænjəl) /

noun

any of several breeds of gundog with long drooping ears, a silky coat, and formerly a docked tailSee clumber spaniel, cocker spaniel, field spaniel, springer spaniel, Sussex spaniel, water spaniel

either of two toy breeds of spanielSee King Charles spaniel

an obsequiously devoted person

Word Origin for spaniel

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

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