1. Said of animals: see FAWN v.1 1.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 290. Spit him amidde þe bearde … þet … fikeð mid dogge uawenunge.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 12350 (Cott.).
| Abute his fete þe quilpes ran, | |
| And plaid wit him on þair maner, | |
| And wit þair fauning mad him cher. |
1382. Wyclif, Tobit xi. 9. With the faunyng of his tail he ioȝed.
c. 1400. Ywaine & Gaw., 2002.
| Bot the lyoun wald noght fyght, | |
| Grete fawning made he to the Knyght. |
1601. Shaks., Jul. C., III. i. 43. Low-crooked-curtsies, and base Spaniell fawning.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts (1673), 109. The lower and stiller [voice of a dog] is called ‘whining,’ or ‘fawning.’
1665. Boyle, Occasional Reflections, III. vii. (1845), 159. With what Clamours, and how many Fawnings, does he [my spaniel] court me to fling it him?
1844. Lowell, Columbus, Poems, 1890, I. 153.
| O days whose memory tames to fawning down | |
| The surly fell of Ocean’s bristled neck! |
2. Cringing, servile flattery or homage; an instance of this.
a. 1310. in Wright, Lyric P., iv. 23.
| Fyth of other ne darth he fleo, | |
| that fleishshes faunyng furst for-eode. |
1382. Wyclif, Judith xiv. 13. Vagio … made fawnyng with his hondis.
1533. Udall, Flowers Latine Speaking (1560), 67 b. Nor suffre our selues to be wonne, or ouercomed with faunyng, or humble behauioure of others towardes vs.
1592. Wyrley, Armorie, 145.
| Let no man then shee seemes to fauor most | |
| To highlie of her [Fortune’s] lended faunings bost. |
1766. Goldsm., Vic. W., xxxi. No fawning, sir … cried the baronet.
1862. Ld. Brougham, Brit. Const., i. 3. Begets a spirit of fawning and truckling towards those in authority.
