épagneul

From Old French espagneul, espaigneul, Frenchified from Old Occitan espaignol (“Spanish”), from Vulgar Latin *Hispāniolus (“Spanish”), from Hispānia (“Spain”). First used as Espainholz in the 14th century by Gaston III of Foix, who described them in a book on hunting. An alternative theory derives it from the Old French verb espeignir (“lay down”), in reference to the behavior of the dogs when hunting game. However, it more likely means "from Spain", as Gaston brought them back from there. Compare also espagnol.

• IPA^(key): /e.pa.ɲœl/

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épagneul m (plural épagneuls, feminine épagneule)

1. spaniel

• → Italian: épagneul

• “épagneul” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

From French

épagneul m (invariable)

1. spaniel