A variety of spaniel, much used for retrieving water-fowl. Also attrib.
1566. Earl of Bedford, in Calderwood, Hist. Kirk (1843), II. 326. One Hickeman … having a water spangell that was verie good.
1570. Caius, De Canibus Brit., 12. Post hunc subsequitur aquaticus, hoc est a Waterspainel.
1576. Fleming, trans. Caius’ Dogs (1881), 16. Of the Dogge called the water Spaniell, or finder, in Latine Aquaticus seu inquisitor.
1588. Kyd, Househ. Phil., Wks. (1901), 267. Good seruants … obey them … not as a water-spaniel, but as the hand is sturred to obey the mind.
1591. Shaks., Two Gent., III. i. 271. Shee hath more qualities then a Water-Spaniell, which is much in a bare Christian.
1599. Nashe, Lenten Stuffe, G 1 b. Which droue Leander … to play the didopper and ducking water spaniel to swim to her.
1676. Dryden, Epil. to ‘Man of Mode, 30. Another’s diving Bow he did adore, Which, with a shog, casts all the hair before; Till he with full Decorum brings it back, And rises with a Water Spaniel shake.
1688. Lond. Gaz., No. 2381/4. Lost…, a large Water-Spaniel Dog.
1769. G. White, Selborne, To Pennant, 2 Jan. If half a dozen gentlemen, furnished with a good strength of water-spaniels, were to beat them [the fens] over for a week, they would certainly find more species.
1821. Scott, Pirate, xxx. The puir bairn swam out like a water-spaniel.
1845. Youatt, Dog, iii. 46. The water-spaniel, although a stouter, is a more docile animal than the land one.
fig. 1616. J. Lane, Contn. Sqr.’s T., X. 107. Beinge but Videriaes water spanieles.
