Definition

Noun: 1. A breed of dog: The Irish Water Spaniel is a specific breed of large gun dog, originally developed in Ireland. It is characterized by a distinctive, dense coat of tight, liver-colored (rich brown) curls, a topknot of long curls on the head, and a tail that is nearly hairless ("rat tail").

Usage Notes

• The term "Irish Water Spaniel" is a proper noun referring to a specific, recognized breed. It is always capitalized.
• It is used as a countable noun (e.g., an Irish Water Spaniel, two Irish Water Spaniels).
• This term refers specifically to the breed standard as defined by kennel clubs. It is not a general term for any spaniel from Ireland or any spaniel that likes water.

Examples

• The Irish Water Spaniel is known for its excellent swimming ability and intelligence.
• We are considering getting an Irish Water Spaniel as a family pet.
• Her Irish Water Spaniel won first place in the sporting group at the dog show.
• The distinctive "rat tail" of the Irish Water Spaniel helps identify the breed.

Advanced Usage

• The breed is often referred to by its initials IWS in informal contexts among dog enthusiasts and breeders.
• It can be used attributively (like an adjective) to describe things related to the breed (e.g., , ).

Variants and Related Words

• Spaniel (n): A broader category of gun dogs known for their flushing and retrieving abilities, especially in hunting game birds. The Irish Water Spaniel is a member of this group.
• Water dog (n): A general term for breeds of dogs historically bred to retrieve waterfowl. The Irish Water Spaniel is a classic example of a water dog.

Synonyms

• IWS (initialism)
• Rat Tail Spaniel (an informal, descriptive name based on its tail)

Related Phrases

• Topknot: The tuft of long, loose curls on top of the dog's head, which is a key breed characteristic.
• Liver-colored: The specific shade of brown (resembling the color of liver) that is the only acceptable color for the breed's coat.
• Sporting group: The category in which the Irish Water Spaniel is placed in kennel club dog shows, which includes other breeds used for finding, flushing, and retrieving game.

Noun

1. breed of large spaniels developed in Ireland having a heavy coat of liver-colored curls and a topknot of long curls and a nearly hairless tail