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Glite Dictionary
Irish water spaniel

Irish water spaniel

4.9
A large dog with a curly brown coat and a nearly hairless tail that fetches things from water
  • noun
  • /ˈaɪrɪʃ ˈwɔːtər ˈspæn.jəl/
translation icon : spaniel de agua irlandés
  • The Irish water spaniel is known for its curly liver-colored coat and playful nature.

Examples

  • Due to their exceptional swimming ability, Irish water spaniels excel in water retrieval activities.

  • Penny and Dave were a pair of Irish water spaniels who shared the master bedroom with Larry and Meg.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • Owners of Irish water spaniels often highlight their intelligence and loyalty.

Synonyms

spaniel
vsIrish water spaniel
18 3.0

A dog with long silky ears and a soft coat

is larger and shows curly coat distinctive topknot and nearly hairless tail
water spaniel
vsIrish water spaniel
1 5.3

A large dog with curly fur bred to fetch ducks from water

adds country origin and unique topknot plus nearly hairless tail

Surface Forms

Irish water spaniel singular
Irish water spaniels plural

Morphology

Irish + water + spaniel

The phrase is fully compositional: 'Irish' marks origin, 'water' signals association with water, and 'spaniel' names a dog breed, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents can infer it is a type of spaniel from Ireland associated with water. Detailed breed-specific traits (curly coat, topknot) are extra world knowledge but not required for the basic, transparent interpretation.

Etymology

Irish water spaniel gets its name from where it was bred and what it does: it is a spaniel from Ireland that works in water. Its tight, curly coat and long topknot help keep it warm and dry while 'retrieving' birds, so the name shows both its origin and job.