Fawn, v. i. [imp. & p. p.Fawned (fa̤nd); p. pr. & vb. n.Fawning.] [OE. fawnen, fainen, fagnien, to rejoice, welcome, flatter, AS. fægnian to rejoice; akin to Icel. fagna to rejoice, welcome. See Fain.] To court favor by low cringing, frisking, etc., as a dog; to flatter meanly; — often followed by on or upon.
You showed your teeth like apes, and fawned like hounds. Shak.
Thou with trembling fear,
Or like a fawning parasite, obeyest. Milton.
Courtiers who fawn on a master while they betray him. Macaulay.