Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Spaniel \Span"iel\, a.
   Cringing; fawning. --Shak.

Spaniel \Span"iel\, v. i.
   To fawn; to cringe; to be obsequious. [R.] --Churchill.

Spaniel \Span"iel\, v. t.
   To follow like a spaniel. [R.]

Spaniel \Span"iel\, n. [OF. espagneul, F. ['e]pagneul, espagnol
   Spanish, Sp. espa[~n]nol, fr. Espa[~n]a Spain, from L.
   Hispania.]
   1. (Zo["o]l.) 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}.

   Note: 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.

               As a spaniel she will on him leap. --Chaucer.

   2. A cringing, fawning person. --Shak.

Source : WordNet®

spaniel
     n : any of several breeds of small to medium-sized gun dogs with
         a long silky coat and long frilled ears