The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Spaniel \Span"iel\, n. [OF. espagneul, F. ['e]pagneul, espagnol
   Spanish, Sp. espa[~n]nol, fr. Espa[~n]a 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]

   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.
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               As a spaniel she will on him leap. --Chaucer.
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   2. A cringing, fawning person. --Shak.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Spaniel \Span"iel\, a.
   Cringing; fawning. --Shak.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Spaniel \Span"iel\, v. i.
   To fawn; to cringe; to be obsequious. [R.] --Churchill.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Spaniel \Span"iel\, v. t.
   To follow like a spaniel. [R.]
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Dog \Dog\ (d[add]g or d[o^]g), n. [AS. docga; akin to D. dog
   mastiff, Dan. dogge, Sw. dogg.]
   1. (Zool.) A quadruped of the genus Canis, esp. the
      domestic dog (Canis familiaris).

   Note: The dog is distinguished above all others of the
         inferior animals for intelligence, docility, and
         attachment to man. There are numerous carefully bred
         varieties, as the akita, beagle, bloodhound,
         bulldog, coachdog, collie, Danish dog,
         foxhound, greyhound, mastiff, pointer,
         poodle, St. Bernard, setter, spaniel, spitz,
         terrier, German shepherd, pit bull, Chihuahua,
         etc. There are also many mixed breeds, and partially
         domesticated varieties, as well as wild dogs, like the
         dingo and dhole. (See these names in the Vocabulary.)
         [1913 Webster +PJC]

   2. A mean, worthless fellow; a wretch.
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            What is thy servant, which is but a dog, that he
            should do this great thing?           -- 2 Kings
                                                  viii. 13 (Rev.
                                                  Ver. )
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   3. A fellow; -- used humorously or contemptuously; as, a sly
      dog; a lazy dog. [Colloq.]
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   4. (Astron.) One of the two constellations, Canis Major and
      Canis Minor, or the Greater Dog and the Lesser Dog. Canis
      Major contains the Dog Star (Sirius).
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   5. An iron for holding wood in a fireplace; a firedog; an
      andiron.
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   6. (Mech.)
      (a) A grappling iron, with a claw or claws, for fastening
          into wood or other heavy articles, for the purpose of
          raising or moving them.
      (b) An iron with fangs fastening a log in a saw pit, or on
          the carriage of a sawmill.
      (c) A piece in machinery acting as a catch or clutch;
          especially, the carrier of a lathe, also, an
          adjustable stop to change motion, as in a machine
          tool.
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   7. an ugly or crude person, especially an ugly woman. [slang]
      [PJC]

   8. a hot dog. [slang]
      [PJC]

   Note: Dog is used adjectively or in composition, commonly in
         the sense of relating to, or characteristic of, a dog.
         It is also used to denote a male; as, dog fox or g-fox,
         a male fox; dog otter or dog-otter, dog wolf, etc.; --
         also to denote a thing of cheap or mean quality; as,
         dog Latin.
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   A dead dog, a thing of no use or value. --1 Sam. xxiv. 14.

   A dog in the manger, an ugly-natured person who prevents
      others from enjoying what would be an advantage to them
      but is none to him.

   Dog ape (Zool.), a male ape.

   Dog cabbage, or Dog's cabbage (Bot.), a succulent herb,
      native to the Mediterranean region (Thelygonum
      Cynocrambe).

   Dog cheap, very cheap. See under Cheap.

   Dog ear (Arch.), an acroterium. [Colloq.]

   Dog flea (Zool.), a species of flea (Pulex canis) which
      infests dogs and cats, and is often troublesome to man. In
      America it is the common flea. See Flea, and
      Aphaniptera.

   Dog grass (Bot.), a grass (Triticum caninum) of the same
      genus as wheat.

   Dog Latin, barbarous Latin; as, the dog Latin of pharmacy.


   Dog lichen (Bot.), a kind of lichen (Peltigera canina)
      growing on earth, rocks, and tree trunks, -- a lobed
      expansion, dingy green above and whitish with fuscous
      veins beneath.

   Dog louse (Zool.), a louse that infests the dog, esp.
      H[ae]matopinus piliferus; another species is
      Trichodectes latus.

   Dog power, a machine operated by the weight of a dog
      traveling in a drum, or on an endless track, as for
      churning.

   Dog salmon (Zool.), a salmon of northwest America and
      northern Asia; -- the gorbuscha; -- called also holia,
      and hone.

   Dog shark. (Zool.) See Dogfish.

   Dog's meat, meat fit only for dogs; refuse; offal.

   Dog Star. See in the Vocabulary.

   Dog wheat (Bot.), Dog grass.

   Dog whelk (Zool.), any species of univalve shells of the
      family Nassid[ae], esp. the Nassa reticulata of
      England.

   To give to the dogs, or To throw to the dogs, to throw
      away as useless. "Throw physic to the dogs; I'll none of
      it." --Shak.

   To go to the dogs, to go to ruin; to be ruined.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

spaniel
    n 1: any of several breeds of small to medium-sized gun dogs
         with a long silky coat and long frilled ears