cocker spaniel

noun

cock·​er spaniel ˈkä-kər- How to pronounce cocker spaniel (audio)
1
: english cocker spaniel
2
: any of a breed of spaniels developed in the U.S. from the English cocker spaniel that are smaller in size and have a shorter muzzle and longer thicker coat

Examples of cocker spaniel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Woolf, who desired a palate cleanser after finishing her experimental novel The Waves, focused her energies on the life story of the poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s cocker spaniel. — Rachel Vorona Cote, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026 Other breeds that are at risk for pancreatitis include miniature dachshunds, poodles and cocker spaniels. — The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 July 2026 Her 17-year-old cocker spaniel, Sadie. — Eileen Finan, PEOPLE, 22 May 2026 Prince William and Kate Middleton’s family includes not just their three children, but their two cocker spaniels, Orla and Otto. — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 22 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for cocker spaniel

Word History

Etymology

cocking woodcock hunting

First Known Use

1829, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cocker spaniel was in 1829

Rhymes for cocker spaniel

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Browse Nearby Words

cockernony
cocker spaniel
cocket
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Cite this Entry

“Cocker spaniel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cocker%20spaniel. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

cocker spaniel

noun
cock·​er spaniel ˌkäk-ər- How to pronounce cocker spaniel (audio)
: any of a breed of small spaniels with long drooping ears and long silky coat

More from Merriam-Webster on cocker spaniel

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cocker spaniel

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