spaniel

noun

span·​iel ˈspan-yəl 

also ˈspa-nᵊl

1

: a member of any of several breeds of small or medium-sized mostly short-legged dogs usually having long wavy hair, feathered legs and tail, and large drooping ears

2

: a fawning servile person

Examples of spaniel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Tyrese Gibson's four Cane Corsos were accused of killing a spaniel named Henry. — Dan Raby, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026

Cocker spaniel, most likely—one of the cute, cuddly breeds the dog vendors specialize in. — Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2026

Carlson has spoken of his own brush with demonic forces, who left him bloodied and scratched in the night, while his wife and their four spaniels slept undisturbed. — Eliza Griswold, New Yorker, 22 June 2026

English springer spaniel Springer spaniels are people dogs through and through. — Pat Mueller, USA Today, 18 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English spaynel, spaniell, from Anglo-French espainnel, alteration of espaignol Spaniard, from Vulgar Latin *Hispaniolus, from Latin Hispania Spain

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing spaniel

• American water spaniel
• Brittany spaniel
• Cavalier King Charles spaniel
• clumber spaniel
• cocker spaniel
• English cocker spaniel
• English springer spaniel
• English toy spaniel
• field spaniel
• Irish water spaniel
• King Charles spaniel
• springer spaniel
• Sussex spaniel
• water spaniel
• Welsh springer spaniel

Rhymes for spaniel

• granule

Kids Definition

spaniel

noun

span·​iel ˈspan-yəl 

: a member of any of several breeds of small or medium-sized mostly short-legged dogs that usually have long wavy hair and large drooping ears