King Charles's Spaniel
Preserved but no longer current.
A small black-and- tan spaniel with a rounded head, short muzzle, full, rather protruding eyes. This variety came into favour at the Restoration, but the colour of the dogs at that time was liver and white.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “King Charles's Spaniel” mean?
A small black-and- tan spaniel with a rounded head, short muzzle, full, rather protruding eyes. This variety came into favour at the Restoration, but the colour of the dogs at that time was liver and white.
Is “King Charles's Spaniel” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.