fawn

noun

1. A young deer.

   “The city recently carried out a deer census, determining there are 313 stags (males), 798 does (females) and 214 fawns (babies) in Nara Park.”

2. A pale brown colour tinted with yellow, like that of a fawn.
3. (obsolete)The young of an animal; a whelp.

   “she [the tigress] rageth upon the shore and the sands, for the losse of her fawnes”

4. (intransitive, rare)A servile cringe or bow.
5. (intransitive)Base flattery.

adj

1. (not-comparable)Of the fawn colour.

verb

1. (intransitive)To give birth to a fawn.
2. (intransitive)To show devotion or submissiveness by wagging its tail, nuzzling, licking, etc.
3. (broadly, figuratively, intransitive)To exhibit affection toward someone.
4. (broadly, figuratively, intransitive)To attempt to please someone.
5. (broadly, derogatory, figuratively, intransitive)To seek favour by flattery and obsequious behaviour.

   “You showed your teeth like apes, and fawned like hounds.”

   “Thou with trembling fear, / Or like a fawning parasite, obeyest.”

   “courtiers who fawn on a master while they betray him”

   “That the young Mr. Churchills liked—but they did not like him coming round of an evening and drinking weak whisky-and-water while he held forth on railway debentures and corporation loans. Mr. Barrett, however, by fawning and flattery, seemed to be able to make not only Mrs. Churchill but everyone else do what he desired.”