fawnn.1
/fɔːn/, U.S. /fɔn/, /fɑn/ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > family unit > [noun] > young animal
younglinga1300
fawn1481
little one1509
rascal1530
littling1721
youngster1776
younglet1850
younker1868
subadult1885
joey1887
trot1895
toto1914
tyke1979
1274 Grands Chron. S. Denis in Rer. Gall. & Franc. Script. (1818) XVII. 354 Jones fauns de bestes sauvages.]
1481 W. Caxton tr. Myrrour of Worlde ii. vi This beest hath but ones yong fawnes.
a1603 King James VI & I Psalm xxix. 6 Lyke to the faune of unicornis Will leape when he doth speik.
1603 G. Owen Descr. Penbrokshire (1892) i. xv. 127 The Fawne [of a seal] at the first is white.
2. A young fallow deer, a buck or doe of the first year. in fawn (said of the doe): pregnant.
ΘΚΠ
the world > people > person > young person > youth or young man > [noun]
frumberdlingc1000
young manOE
childc1225
hind1297
pagec1300
youtha1325
fawnc1369
swainc1386
stripling1398
boy1440
springaldc1450
jovencel1490
younkera1522
speara1529
gorrel1530
lad1535
hobbledehoy1540
cockerel1547
waga1556
spring1559
loonc1560
hensure1568
youngster1577
imp1578
pigsney1581
cocklinga1586
demy1589
muchacho1591
shaver1592
snipper-snappera1593
callant1597
spaught1598
stubble boy1598
ghillie1603
codling1612
cuba1616
skippera1616
man-boy1637
sprig1646
callow1651
halflang1660
stubbed boy1683
gossoon1684
gilpie1718
stirraha1722
young lion1792
halfling1794
pubescent1795
young man1810
sixteener1824
señorito1843
tad1845
boysie1846
shaveling1854
ephebe1880
boychick1921
lightie1946
young blood1967
studmuffin1986
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > group Ruminantia (sheep, goats, cows, etc.) > family Cervidae (deer) > [noun] > fawn
hind-calfa900
fawnc1369
calfa1398
hind-fawn1648
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > group Ruminantia (sheep, goats, cows, etc.) > types of deer > [noun] > genus Cervus > cervus dama (fallow deer) > young
fawnc1369
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > group Ruminantia (sheep, goats, cows, etc.) > family Cervidae (deer) > [adjective] > pregnant or giving birth
in fawn1872
calving1886
c1369 G. Chaucer Bk. Duchesse 429 Of founes, soures, bukkes, does Was ful the wode.
c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (Roxb.) xxxi. 143 Dappeld and spotted, as it ware founez of daes.
1486 Bk. St. Albans E iv a And ye speke of the Bucke the fyrst yere he is a fawne.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Jer. xiv. 5 The Hynde shal forsake the yonge fawne..because there shalbe no grasse.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost iv. 404 As a Tiger, who by chance hath spi'd..two gentle Fawnes at play. View more context for this quotation
1774 O. Goldsmith Hist. Earth III. 137 The fawns continue to follow the deer eight or nine months in all.
1810 W. Scott Lady of Lake iii. 99 The doe awoke, and to the lawn..led her fawn.
1872 S. W. Baker Nile Tributaries Abyssinia (new ed.) ii. 38 The does are now in fawn.
3. Short for fawn-colour n. at Compounds 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > named colours > brown or brownness > [noun] > yellowish brown > fawn
fawn-colour1800
fawn1881
Manila1934
palomino1949
the world > matter > colour > named colours > brown or brownness > [adjective] > yellowish brown > fawn
fawn-brown1800
fawn-coloured1803
fawny1849
chamois1872
camel1881
fawn1881
fawnish1895
1881 C. C. Harrison Woman's Handiwork Mod. Homes iii. 165 Among colors in which most of the stuffs mentioned may be had, are seal-brown, nut-brown and fawn.
1892 Pall Mall Gaz. 17 Mar. 1/2 A Russian costume in fawns made of fancy crépon.
1892 Pall Mall Gaz. 22 Sept. 1/3 Slight moustache and hair of a fawn that we associate rather with Caledonia than the Netherlands.
1914 Scotsman 26 Oct. 12/2 The shades are Steel, Oxford and Parson Grey, Mole, Beaver, Fawn.
1971 P. D. James Shroud for Nightingale v. 170 The thick winter coat in fawn was of good quality.
1971 P. D. James Shroud for Nightingale vii. 220 His fawn polo-neck sweater.
Compounds
C1. General attributive.
a.
fawn-skin n.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > skin or hide > [noun] > deer-skin
deerskin1396
buckskin1433
fawn-skin1553
stag-skin1657
1553 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Eneados vii. vi. 126 Sum war cled, in pilchis, and foune skynnis.
1774 J. Bryant New Syst. (new ed.) I. 10 Many allusions about a fawn, and fawn-skin, in the Dionusiaca.
1864 A. C. Swinburne Atalanta 1389 Their leaves that nod Round thy fawnskin.
b.
fawn-brown adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > named colours > brown or brownness > [adjective] > yellowish brown > fawn
fawn-brown1800
fawn-coloured1803
fawny1849
chamois1872
camel1881
fawn1881
fawnish1895
1800 tr. E. J. B. Bouillon-Lagrange Man. Course Chem. II. 177 They acquire a strong fawn-brown tint.
1865 P. H. Gosse Year at Shore 79 Light olive, fawn-brown..or pure white.
fawn-eyed adj.
ΚΠ
1895 J. R. Lowell Last Poems 34 Seraph strong to soar, or fawn-eyed elf.
1938 S. Spender Trial of Judge 16 The gross-lipped fawn-eyed nigger-skinned Hook-nosed intellectual Petra.
fawn-like adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > bodily movement > [adjective] > qualities of bodily movement > elastic
supple1599
springing1655
springy1749
buoyant1835
fawn-like1838
elastic1848
the mind > emotion > humility > modesty > shyness or bashfulness > [adjective]
shamefastc897
unboldc897
shamelya1100
squeamous1483
bashful1548
shamefaced1555
squeamish1561
retiring1566
chary1567
verecund1575
blatec1600
helo1611
shy1672
shuff1688
shyish1754
shanny1821
fawn-like1838
the mind > emotion > fear > timidity > [adjective] > shy
untrumc1315
scar1559
shy1600
willyarta1796
unadvancing1819
fawn-like1838
1838 E. Bulwer-Lytton Leila i. iv. 29 That elastic and fawnlike grace.
1862 J. Skelton Nugæ Criticæ iii. 152 Little cousin Annie, with her shy fawn-like glances.
fawn-pink adj.
ΚΠ
1909 Daily Chron. 29 Apr. 7/3 Tourterelle is a subdued fawn-pink.
1927 D. H. Lawrence Mornings in Mexico 30 It [sc. the village] lies..tilted on the fawn~pink slope.
C2.
fawn-colour n. a light yellowish brown.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > named colours > brown or brownness > [noun] > yellowish brown > fawn
fawn-colour1800
fawn1881
Manila1934
palomino1949
1800 tr. E. J. B. Bouillon-Lagrange Man. Course Chem. II. 284 Of a red, inclining to fawn-colour.
1857 E. L. Birkett Bird's Urinary Deposits (ed. 5) 133 From the palest fawn-colour to the deepest amber.
fawn-coloured adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > named colours > brown or brownness > [adjective] > yellowish brown > fawn
fawn-brown1800
fawn-coloured1803
fawny1849
chamois1872
camel1881
fawn1881
fawnish1895
1803 H. Davy in Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 93 261 They gave dense fawn-coloured precipitates.
1891 E. Peacock Narcissa Brendon II. 391 The little fawn-coloured bullocks.
fawn foot n. (see quots.).
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > cutting tool > axe > [noun] > parts of
barbc1400
fawn foot1950
1950 H. L. Edlin in Wood XV. 373/1 Fawn foot, swelling at the end of an axe helve, to give a better grip, shaped like a fawn's foot.
1953 A. Jobson Househ. & Country Crafts xvii. 166 Some characteristic bill-hooks with the funniest little kick of a handle, like the spurs of a fighting-cock (I believe they are technically known as fawnfeet, and assuredly they are taken out of the hedgerow).
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1895; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
† fawnn.2
Obsolete.
1. An act of fawning; a servile cringe, a wheedling courtesy.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > commendation or praise > flattery or flattering > servile flattery or currying favour > [noun] > an act of
fawn1590
1590 R. Greene Neuer too Late i. 56 Infida..plied Francesco with her flattering fawnes.
1602 B. Jonson Poetaster v. i. sig. K2 Thy..holsome sharpnesse..pleaseth Cæsar more, then seruile fawnes . View more context for this quotation
1633 P. Fletcher Poeticall Misc. 79 in Purple Island Will rave and chide..But soon to smiles and fawns turns all his heat!
a1657 R. Loveday Lett. (1663) 146 The fawnes of Fortune.
1744 E. Haywood Female Spectator (1746) I. 131 You may know him by..a servile fawn on all who can..contribute to exalting him.
2. = fawner n. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > commendation or praise > flattery or flattering > servile flattery or currying favour > [noun] > servile flatterer
papelard1340
placeboc1395
fawnerc1440
pickthank1460
adulator?a1475
earwigc1475
curry-favel1515
men-pleaser1526
gnatho1533
upcreeperc1540
claw-back1549
curry-favourer1563
man-pleaser1564
claw-poll1569
please-man1570
sycophant1575
curry-favour1577
capper1587
insinuator1598
clawera1603
scrape-shoe1607
suck-fist1611
courtiera1616
foot lickera1616
fleerera1627
wriggler1631
fawn1635
limberham1689
toad-eater1742
tuft-hunter1755
arse-kisser1766
sleeve-creeper1809
lick-spit1822
lickspittle1825
shoe-licker1826
toady1826
toad1831
toader1842
bootlicker1846
bootlick1849
favour-currier1855
lubricator1872
bum-sucker1877
handshaker1884
suck1900
mbongo1911
sucker-up1911
apple-polisher1918
snurge1933
ass-licker1939
brown-nose1939
brown-noser1942
arse-licker1951
ass-kisser1951
greaser1959
suck-hole1966
suck-up1970
bumboy1984
fly-
1635 R. Brathwait tr. M. Silesio Arcadian Princesse 80 Had he plaid buffoun, Fawn or knave.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1895; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
fawnv.1
/fɔːn/, U.S. /fɔn/, /fɑn/ 1. figurative.1573 T. Tusser Points Huswifrie (new ed.) f. 25v, in Fiue Hundreth Points Good Husbandry (new ed.) Though Fortune smiles, and fawnes vpon thy side.1600 P. Holland tr. Livy Rom. Hist. (1609) iv. xlii. 166 It was no long time that fortune fawned upon the Æquians.1796 E. Burke Let. to Noble Lord 30 In the same moment fawning on those who have the knife half out of the sheath.† c. quasi-transitive. To wag (the tail). Obsolete.
a. intransitive. Of an animal, esp. a dog: To show delight or fondness (by wagging the tail, whining, etc.) as a dog does.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Unguiculata or clawed mammal > family Canidae > dog > [verb (intransitive)] > act in particular way
fawna1250
stoop?1530
kennel1552
fetch-and-carrya1616
to cock one's ears1714
beg1816
toll1851
trust1939
a1250 (?a1200) [implied in: Ancrene Riwle (Nero) (1952) 131 Spet him amidde þe bearde..ðet..fikeð mid dogge uawenunge[?c1225 Cleo. faȝenunge; c1230 Corpus fahenunge]. (at fawning n. 1)].
1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. xv. 295 Þere ne was lyoun ne leopart.. Þat ne fel to her feet, and fauned with þe tailles.
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) II. xviii. iv. 1115 In sowkynge tyme þe lomb bendeþ his knees... And fawneþ wiþ his tail whanne he haþ yfounden his mooder.
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 152/1 Fawnyn as howndys, applaudo.
1594 W. Shakespeare Lucrece sig. D3 As the grim Lion fawneth ore his pray. View more context for this quotation
1611 T. Middleton & T. Dekker Roaring Girle sig. K3v He..can both fawne like a Spaniell, and bite like a Mastiue.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ix. 526 Oft he bowd His turret Crest..Fawning . View more context for this quotation
1675 T. Hobbes tr. Homer Odysses xvii. 209 The old Dog Argus..fauned with his tail, but could not rise.
1791 W. Cowper tr. Homer Odyssey in Iliad & Odyssey II. xvi. 11 Thy dogs bark not, but fawn on his approach.
1865 A. C. Swinburne Satia in Poems & Ballads 54 A tame beast..fawns to be fed.
b. to fawn on, upon: (of a dog, etc.) to show delight at the presence of; to lavish caresses on, to caress.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > love > action of caressing > caress [verb (transitive)]
freeOE
coy1340
daunsel1362
to fawn on, upon1477
daut?a1513
cherish1568
fona1586
minion1598
flatter1599
ingle1599
biscot1653
ningle1659
fond1676
smuggle1679
fondle1686
caress1697
nauntle1828
smudge1844
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > favour > win favour with [verb (transitive)] > favour
to let well ofc1330
favour1340
to take, accept, receive in greec1374
likea1393
smilec1400
to take agreea1425
agreec1450
to fawn on, upon1477
to bear good mind toa1516
to look upon ——c1515
to look on ——1540
vouchsafe1582
conceit1589
relish1594
to look to ——1611
impatronize1629
aspect1663
sympathize1828
to put one's money on1847
1477 Earl Rivers tr. Dictes or Sayengis Philosophhres (Caxton) (1877) lf. 21 I barke vpon the fooles and fawne vpon the wysemen.
1553 T. Wilson Arte Rhetorique (1580) 196 The Lion..fauned gently upon hym.
1562 W. Bullein Bk. Use Sicke Men f. lxxvv, in Bulwarke of Defence Thei will..phaune upon theim, waggyng their tailes.
a1605 A. Montgomerie Descr. Vane Lovers 42 A Dog..will..fan on him vha givis him fude.
1632 J. Hayward tr. G. F. Biondi Eromena 193 I wondered to see her [a Deere] so gently fawne upon me without any feare.
1776 A. Smith Inq. Wealth of Nations I. i. ii. 16 A puppy fawns upon its dam. View more context for this quotation
1841 E. W. Lane tr. Thousand & One Nights I. 49 The calf..came to me, and fawned upon me.
1861 T. Hughes Tom Brown at Oxf. I. iii. 56 Jack [the dog]..was fawning on him as if he understood every word.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > by habits or actions > habits and actions > [verb (transitive)] > wag tail
fawna1400
waga1425
swinge1605
swish1799
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 12354 Þas oþer leons..Honurd him faunand þair tail.
ΚΠ
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 12333 (heading) Þe leonis fauned iesus.
c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 1919 Hor houndeȝ þay þer rewarde, Her hedeȝ þay fawne & frote.
c1480 (a1400) St. Euphemia 183 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) II. 422 Faynand hir þare talis knet.
1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende 294/4 They ranne to this hooly vyrgyne in fawnynge her.
3. † b. to fawn upon (a thing, an object of desire): to aspire to. Obsolete. rare.
a. intransitive. To affect a servile fondness; to court favour or notice by an abject demeanour. Const. on, upon (a person, his looks, etc.).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > humility > servility > be servile [verb (intransitive)]
fawnc1325
crouch1528
jouk1573
crawl1576
creep1581
spaniel1599
grovel1605
spanielize1641
cringec1660
to lick the ground1667
truckle1680
to kiss (a person's) arse, behind, bum1705
toad-eat1766
snool1786
to eat (any one's) toads1788
kowtow1826
sidle1828
toady1861
to knock head1876
ass-lick1937
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > commendation or praise > flattery or flattering > servile flattery or currying favour > flatter servilely or curry favour [verb (intransitive)]
fain?c1225
fawnc1325
to make placebo1340
fagea1382
curryc1400
to curry favela1420
to claw (a person's) toea1500
to curry favour?1518
to be at the school of placebo1554
to play (with) placebo1583
insinuatea1593
wriggle1601
lick1602
sycophantize1605
gnathonize1619
pickthank1621
supparasitate1623
ingratiate1647
slaver1730
toad-eat1766
slaum1787
to eat (any one's) toads1788
toad1802
bootlick1846
toady1861
to suck in1899
smoodge1906
smarm1911
arse-lick1928
bum-suck1930
to suck round1931
ass-lick1937
brown-nose1939
suck-hole1961
weasel1980
c1325 [implied in: c1325 in T. Wright Specimens Lyric Poetry (1842) iv. 23 Fyth of other ne darth he fleo, that fleishshes faunyng furst for-eode. (at fawning n. 2)].
c1440 J. Lydgate Secrees Prol. 675 Smothe afore folk to fawnyn and to shyne.
?1510 T. More tr. G. Pico della Mirandola in tr. G. F. Pico della Mirandola Lyfe I. Picus sig. d.vv If the worlde fawne vppon ye.
1576 A. Fleming tr. Isocrates in Panoplie Epist. 171 Such as fawne on them with flatterie.
1577 H. I. tr. H. Bullinger 50 Godlie Serm. I. ii. x. sig. P/1 By fawning on his angrie lookes she tourns them into smiles.
1612 T. Taylor Αρχὴν Ἁπάντων: Comm. Epist. Paul to Titus iii. 3 Nor further fawned [they] vpon God then to get out of his hands.
1692 E. Walker tr. Epictetus Enchiridion xxxi Nor flatter, fawn, forswear, assent or lie.
1823 C. Lamb Let. 9 Jan. (1935) II. 363 How the Knave fawned while I was of service to him!
1857 H. T. Buckle Hist. Civilisation Eng. I. vii. 398 Even our greatest writers prostituted their abilities by fawning upon the prejudices of their patrons.
1866 C. Kingsley Hereward the Wake I. x. 230 Your knights..fawn on a damsel with soft words.
1879 W. H. Dixon Royal Windsor I. xii. 118 He stooped to fawn where he was used to smite.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > hope > aspiration, ambition > aspire to [verb (transitive)]
pretend1481
to fawn upon1634
the mind > will > wish or inclination > desire > aspiration or ambition > aspire to or to do [verb (transitive)]
pursuea1382
affect?a1425
anhelea1500
to hawk after (for)?1510
affectate1560
to breathe after ——a1593
emule1595
aspire1596
emulate1597
to fawn upon1634
1634 J. Ford Chron. Hist. Perkin Warbeck v. sig. I2 Could I be Englands Queene (a glory Iane I never fawn'd on).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > humility > servility > be servile to [verb (transitive)]
fawna1568
comply1641
sneak1665
spaniel1812
yessir1898
yes1915
ass-kiss1951
cocksuck1954
ass-lick1962
crawl1966
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > commendation or praise > flattery or flattering > servile flattery or currying favour > flatter servilely or curry favour with [verb (transitive)]
flatter1340
to claw the back ofc1394
to pick a thank (also thanks)c1422
clawc1425
to claw by the sleeve1509
to claw by the backa1542
fawna1568
to make or pay (one's) court to1590
adulate1612
hug1622
sycophant1637
to make up to1701
to whip it in with1702
cultivate1706
incense1708
to wheedle in with1726
to grandfather up1747
slaver1794
toad1802
to play up to ——1809
nut1819
toady1827
bootlick1846
to suck up to1860
lickspittle1886
jolly1890
bum-suck1918
arse-lick1919
to cosy up to1937
brown-nose1948
ass-kiss1951
ass-lick1962
love-bomb1976
a1568 R. Ascham Scholemaster (1570) i. f. 28v Though, for their priuate matters they can follow, fawne, and flatter noble Personages.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1895; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
fawnv.2
/fɔːn/, U.S. /fɔn/, /fɑn/ 1. intransitive. To bring forth young. Now only of deer.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > biology > biological processes > procreation or reproduction > multiply or reproduce [verb (intransitive)]
teemOE
tidderOE
breedc1200
felefolda1300
fructifya1325
creasec1380
multiplyc1390
engendera1400
fawn1481
procreate1576
propagate1601
generate1605
spawn1607
pullulate1618
populate1625
reproduce1650
prolify1660
the world > animals > animal body > general parts > sexual organs and reproduction > [verb (intransitive)] > bring forth young
belittera1325
whelp1398
fawn1481
litter1484
kitten1495
kittle1530
yean1548
dam1577
farrow1580
cub1755
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > group Ruminantia (sheep, goats, cows, etc.) > family Cervidae (deer) > [verb (intransitive)] > give birth
calvec1000
fawn1481
1481 W. Caxton tr. Myrrour of Worlde ii. vi They [lionesses] come to fede their fawnes the iii day after they haue fawned.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 546/2 Haue your dere fawned yet?
1679 T. Blount Fragmenta Antiquitatis 91 Because the Dear did then fawn, or bring forth their young.
1721–1800 in N. Bailey Universal Etymol. Eng. Dict.
1942 J. M. Dowsett Romance England's Forests ix. 243 No hogs were allowed in the chase during the fence month when the does were fawning.
1951 D. M. Stenton Eng. Society Early Middle Ages iii. 107 The forest was closed for hunting because the beasts were supposed to be fawning.
2. transitive. Of deer: To bring forth (a fawn).
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > group Ruminantia (sheep, goats, cows, etc.) > family Cervidae (deer) > [verb (transitive)] > give birth
fawn1575
1575 G. Gascoigne Noble Arte Venerie xliv. 141 The Bucke is fawned in the end of May.
1618 R. Boyle Diary (1886) 1st Ser. I. 192 The firste fawn that was fawned in my Park.
Derivatives
ˈfawning n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > group Ruminantia (sheep, goats, cows, etc.) > family Cervidae (deer) > [noun] > female > giving birth
calvinga1398
fawning1598
1598 J. Manwood Treat. Lawes Forrest xi. f. 62v When that our Agistors doe meete togither for the fawning of our wilde beastes.
1685 R. Brady tr. John's Charter of Forests §7 in Hist. Eng. App. 141 The third Swainmote shall be holden..concerning the fawning of our Does.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1895; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1c1369
n.21590v.1a1250
v.21481