"cringing, servile," mid-14c., present-participle adjective from fawn (v.). Related: Fawningly.
Entries linking to fawning
fawn v.
Middle English faunen, from Old English fagnian "rejoice, be glad, exult, applaud," from fægen "glad" (see fain); used in Middle English to refer to expressions of delight, especially a dog wagging its tail (early 14c.), hence "court favor, grovel, act slavishly" (early 15c.). Related: Fawned; fawning.