papillon

noun

pa·​pil·​lon ˌpä-pē-ˈyōⁿ How to pronounce papillon (audio)
ˌpa-
: any of a European breed of small slender toy spaniels having large erect heavily fringed ears

Examples of papillon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Anthony Devlin / Getty Images Miuccia emerged victorious, beating Ana, a Jack Russell terrier; Liza, the miniature schnauzer; Viking, the Tibetan mastiff; Shake, the Australian shepherd; Sophia, the papillon; and Suzie, the cocker spaniel. — Mithil Aggarwal, NBC News, 10 Mar. 2025 The American Kennel Club says that these breeds include basset hounds; beagles; bulldogs; cavalier King Charles spaniels; collies; golden retrievers; Labrador retrievers; papillons; and pugs. — Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 10 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, butterfly, from Latin papilion-, papilio

First Known Use

1907, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of papillon was in 1907

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Cite this Entry

“Papillon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/papillon. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about papillon

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