English
spaniel
Spaniel comes from Old Occitan espaignol ‘Spanish’, and goes back to Vulgar Latin Hispānia ‘Spain’.
- Vulgar Latinc. 100–700 CEHispānia‘Spain’
- Vulgar Latin, derivedc. 100–700 CE*Hispāniolus‘Spanish’reconstructed
- Old Occitanc. 950–1500espaignol‘Spanish’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400espaigneul
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500spaynol
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1590–1591spaniel
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Vulgar Latinc. 100–700 CEHispānia‘Spain’
- Vulgar Latin, derivedc. 100–700 CE*Hispāniolus‘Spanish’reconstructed
- Old Occitanc. 950–1500espaignol‘Spanish’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400espaigneul
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500spaynol
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1590–1591spaniel
Earliest quotation: c. 1590–1591, William Shakespeare, The Two Gentlemen of Verona: “Pro[theus].[…]Yet (Spaniel-like) the more ſhe ſpurnes my loue, /…”
Every English word from Vulgar Latin Hispānia
Today it means
noun Any of various small to medium-sized breeds of gun dog having a broad muzzle, long, wavy fur and long ears that hang at the side of the head, bred for flushing and retrieving game.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Vulgar Latin Hispānia / spaniel