noun
any dog of two large curly-coated breeds used for hunting waterfowl
• Regions:
↑Ireland, ↑Hibernia, ↑Emerald Isle, ↑United States, ↑United States of America, ↑America, ↑the States, ↑US, ↑U.S., ↑USA, ↑U.S.A.
• Hypernyms: ↑spaniel
• Hyponyms: ↑American water spaniel, ↑Irish water spaniel
* * *
noun : a rather large spaniel that has a heavy curly coat and is adapted especially for retrieving waterfowl — see irish water spaniel
* * *
either of two breeds of spaniels, used for retrieving waterfowl. Cf. American water spaniel, Irish water spaniel.
[1560-70]
* * *
(Irish) water spaniel
A (liver-coloured) spaniel for retrieving water fowl
• • •
Main Entry: ↑spaniel
————————
water spaniel noun
A spaniel bred to retrieve waterfowl, the Irish water spaniel having a liver-coloured coat
• • •
Main Entry: ↑water
* * *
water spaniel,
a large spaniel with a heavy, curly coat, often trained to swim out for wild birds, such as ducks or geese, that have been shot down by hunters.
Useful english dictionary. 2012.