fawn

Etymology 1

From Middle English fawne, fowne, foun, from Old French faon, foon, feon, from Vulgar Latin *fētōnem, from Latin fētus (“offspring, young”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁(y)- (“to suckle, nurse”). Displaced native Old English hindċealf (literally “deer calf”). Doublet of fetus.

noun

1. A young deer.
2. A pale brown colour tinted with yellow, like that of a fawn.
   fawn:
3. (obsolete) The young of an animal; a whelp.

adj

1. Of the fawn colour.

verb

1. (intransitive) To give birth to a fawn.

Etymology 2

From Middle English fawnen, from Old English fagnian, related to Old English fæġnian (“to celebrate”), whence Middle English fainen, English fain. Cognate with Old Norse fagna. See also fain.

verb

1. (intransitive) To exhibit affection or attempt to please.
2. (intransitive) To seek favour by flattery and obsequious behaviour (with on or upon).
   Thou with trembling fear, / Or like a fawning parasite, obeyest. 1671, John Milton, Paradise Regained, book 1
   That the young Mr. Churchills liked—but they did not like him coming round of an evening and drinking weak whisky-and-water while he held forth on railway debentures and corporation loans. Mr. Barrett, however, by fawning and flattery, seemed to be able to make not only Mrs. Churchill but everyone else do what he desired. 1918, W. B. Maxwell, chapter 2, in The Mirror and the Lamp
3. (intransitive, of a dog) To show devotion or submissiveness by wagging its tail, nuzzling, licking, etc.

noun

1. (rare) A servile cringe or bow.
2. Base flattery.