fawning

noun

1. a young deer, especially an unweaned one.
2. a light yellowish-brown color.

adjective

3. light yellowish-brown.

verb (used without object)

4. (of a doe) to bring forth young.

verb (used without object)

1. to seek notice or favor by servile demeanor: The courtiers fawned over the king.
2. (of a dog) to behave affectionately.

noun

1. a young deer of either sex aged under one year
2. 1. a light greyish-brown colour
   2. (as adjective)a fawn raincoat
3. in fawn (of deer) pregnant

verb

4. (of deer) to bear (young)

verb (intr; often foll by on or upon)

1. to seek attention and admiration (from) by cringing and flattering
2. (of animals, esp dogs) to try to please by a show of extreme friendliness and fondness (towards)

n.

“young deer,” mid-14c., from Anglo-French (late 13c.), Old French faon, feon “young animal” (12c.), from Vulgar Latin *fetonem (nominative *feto), from Latin fetus “an offspring” (see fetus). Still used of the young of any animal in King James I’s private translation of the Psalms, but mainly of deer from 15c. Color use is 1881.

v.

Old English fægnian “rejoice, be glad, exult,” from fægen “glad” (see fain); used in Middle English to refer to expressions of delight, especially a dog wagging its tail (early 13c.), hence “court favor, grovel, act slavishly” (early 14c.). Related: Fawned; fawning.