Definition

1. Noun:
   • A type of spaniel dog: A springer is a breed of large spaniel with a wavy, silky coat, typically in colors like black or liver and white, originally bred for flushing game.
   • A cow about to give birth: In farming, a springer is a cow that is in the late stages of pregnancy and is close to calving.
   • An architectural element: In architecture, a springer is the lowest stone (or voussoir) in an arch, from which the curve of the arch begins to rise or "spring."

Usage Examples

• Noun (Dog breed):
  • The springer flushed the pheasant from the underbrush.
  • They own a beautiful liver and white springer.
• Noun (Cow):
  • The farmer moved the springer to a separate calving pen.
  • Watch that springer closely; she could give birth any hour now.
• Noun (Architecture):
  • The mason carefully placed the springer to begin the arch's construction.
  • The arch's stability depends on the placement of its springer.

Advanced Usage

• "Springer spaniel": This is the full, compound name for the dog breed. It is often specified as the English Springer Spaniel.
  • The English springer spaniel is an excellent gun dog.
• In context: The term can be used attributively (like an adjective) to describe related things.
  • He specializes in springer calving management. (Referring to the care of cows about to give birth.)

Variants and Related Words

• Springer spaniel (n): The full name for the dog breed.
• Springing (n/adj): The action or point from which something springs; related to the architectural concept.
• Spring (v): To originate or arise from, which is the etymological root of "springer."

Synonyms

• For the dog: Spaniel, gun dog, flushing dog.
• For the cow: Close-up cow, near-term cow, heavy cow.
• For the architecture: Skewback, impost (though these can have slightly different technical meanings).

Related Phrases

• "To spring from": To originate from. This phrase is conceptually linked to the architectural "springer."
  • Many great ideas spring from simple observations.

Noun

1. a large spaniel with wavy silky coat usually black or liver and white
2. a cow about to give birth
3. the lowest stone in an arch -- from which it springs