%spaniel%

. One of a breed of small or medium-sized spaniels kept for hunting or retrieving game or for household pets. They usually weigh from eighteen to twenty-eight pounds. They have the head of fair length, with square muzzle, the ears long and set low, the legs short or of medium length, and the coat fine and silky, wavy but not curly. Various colors are bred, as black, liver, red, black and white, black and tan, etc. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

pos>n. (Zool.) A variety of small pet dogs, having, drooping ears, a high, dome-shaped forehead, pug nose, large, prominent eyes, and long, wavy hair. The color is usually black and tan. [ 1913 Webster ]

. One of a breed of field spaniels similar to the clumbers, but shorter in body and of a liver-and-white or black-and-white color. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ OF. espagneul, F. épagneul, espagnol Spanish, Sp. españnol, fr. España Spain, from L. Hispania. ] 1. (Zool.) One of a breed of small dogs having long and thick hair and large drooping ears. The legs are usually strongly feathered, and the tail bushy. See Illust. under Clumber, and Cocker. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ There are several varieties of spaniels, some of which, known as field spaniels, are used in hunting; others are used for toy or pet dogs, as the Blenheim spaniel, and the King Charles spaniel (see under Blenheim). Of the field spaniels, the larger kinds are called springers, and to these belong the Sussex, Norfolk, and Clumber spaniels (see Clumber). The smaller field spaniels, used in hunting woodcock, are called cocker spaniels (see Cocker). Field spaniels are remarkable for their activity and intelligence. [ 1913 Webster ]

As a spaniel she will on him leap. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A cringing, fawning person. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Cringing; fawning. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To fawn; to cringe; to be obsequious. [ R. ] Churchill. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To follow like a spaniel. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]