Fawn (?), n. [OF. faon the young
one of any beast, a fawn, F. faon a fawn, for fedon,
fr. L. fetus. See Fetus.] 1.
(Zoöl.) A young deer; a buck or doe of the first
year. See Buck.
2. The young of an animal; a whelp.
[Obs.]
[The tigress] . . . followeth . . . after her
fawns.
Holland.
3. A fawn color.
Fawn, a. Of the color of a fawn;
fawn-colored.
Fawn, v. i. [Cf. F. faonner.]
To bring forth a fawn.
Fawn, v. i. [imp. & p.
p. Fawned (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Fawning.] [OE. fawnen, fainen, fagnien,
to rejoice, welcome, flatter, AS. fægnian to rejoice;
akin to Icel. fagna to rejoice, welcome. See Fain.]
To court favor by low cringing, frisking, etc., as a dog; to
flatter meanly; -- often followed by on or
upon.
You showed your teeth like apes, and fawned
like hounds.
Shak.
Thou with trembling fear,
Or like a fawning parasite, obeyest.
Milton.
Courtiers who fawn on a master while they
betray him.
Macaulay.Fawn, n. A servile cringe or bow;
mean flattery; sycophancy. Shak.