papillon

papillon, breed of toy dog whose origins are obscure but whose widespread existence in Europe is attested to as early as the 17th cent. It stands from 8 to 11 in. (20.3-27.9 cm) high at the shoulder and weighs from 5 to 11 lb (2.3-5 kg). Its long, straight, abundant coat is fine and silky and forms a fringe of longer hair on the ears, chest, back of legs, and tail. Believed to have developed from a now extinct dwarf Belgian spaniel, the papillon derives its name, which means "butterfly" in French, from the unique appearance of its obliquely set, wing-shaped ears. The papillon was very fashionable as a lapdog in the courts of Europe. Today it is raised as a companion and house pet. See dog.

Breed of toy dog known from the 16th century, when it was called a dwarf spaniel. A favorite of Marie-Antoinette, it appeared in paintings by Old Masters. It acquired its name (French for “butterfly”) in the late 19th century, when a variety with large, flaring ears became fashionable. Another variety has drooping ears. A slender, graceful dog with a plumed tail, it stands 11 in. (28 cm) or less and weighs up to 11 lbs (5 kg). The soft, full coat is usually white, with darker patches.

Learn more about papillon with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Papillon, which is French for butterfly, may refer to:

• Papillon (autobiography), a memoir written by Henri Charrière about his imprisonment at a penal colony in French Guiana
• Papillon (film), a film based on the autobiography
• Le Papillon, a French film
• Papillon (ballet), an important Romantic ballet from 1860
• Papillon (dog), a dog breed characterized by a small body, large ears, and great agility
• Papillon (horse), a famous racehorse whose most notable success was the 2000 Grand National
• Papillons, a series of dances by Robert Schumann
• Papillon, a villain in the Japanese anime series Busou Renkin
• "Papillon" (Rilo Kiley song), a 1999 song by Rilo Kiley on The Initial Friend E.P.
• Papillon (album), a 2001 album by Shimatani Hitomi
• "Papillon" (Shimatani Hitomi song), a 2001 song by Shimatani Hitomi
• "Papillon" (Stratovarius song), a 2003 song by Stratovarius on their album Elements, Pt. 1
• Papillon -hana to chou-, a manga series by Ueda Miwa
• Papillon's Stalemate is a song by InMe