papillon

noun

pa·​pil·​lon ˌpä-pē-ˈyōⁿ 

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

Their top nine list includes basset hounds, beagles, bulldogs, Cavalier King Charles spaniels, collies, golden retrievers, Labrador retrievers, papillons and pugs. —Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Mar. 2025

These include basset hounds; beagles; bulldogs; cavalier king Charles spaniels; collies; golden retrievers; Labrador retrievers; papillons; and pugs. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025

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

Six special needs puppy players will also be introduced including Riddle, a pug terrier who suffers from the neurological condition cerebellar hypoplasia, Mr. Bean, a papillon who only has his two hind legs and four other perseverant pups who don’t let their deafness slow them down on. —Diana Leyva, The Tennessean, 10 Feb. 2024

The People's Choice Award was won by the Companion Animal Alliance in Louisiana, with an outfit designed by Queen of Sparkles worn on model Jaime Glas Odom with a chihuahua papillon mix named Little Dog. —Nadja Sayej, Forbes, 9 Sep. 2024

Border collies have won eight of the last 11 agility titles, while the top three finishers in this year's competition were all papillons. —Rebecca Rosman, NPR, 14 May 2024

While Keith took the elderly dogs — a papillon and a rat terrier — their mother could no longer look after, Cash volunteered to take care of her day-to-day needs. —Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 19 Jan. 2024

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1907, in the meaning defined above