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fawn

/fɔːn/ noun

In Latin: hinnuleus Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about fawn at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

  1. A color or pigment varying around a light grey-brown color.
    she wore dun
  2. A young deer.

verb

  1. Show submission or fear.
  2. Try to gain favor by cringing or flattering.
    He is always kowtowing to his boss
  3. Have fawns.
    deer fawn

Origin

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.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)