Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • transitive & intransitive verb To behave like a sycophant toward (someone) or behave like a sycophant. synonym: fawn.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A mean, cringing person; a toady.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun Low, U. S. A toady; a bootlicker.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb transitive To seek favor from by fawning, servile behavior.
  • verb intransitive To engage in fawning, servile behavior.
  • noun US A toady or sycophant.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb try to gain favor by cringing or flattering

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

boot +‎ lick

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Examples

Comments

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  • To gain favor by flattery, fawning, or obsequious behavior.

    Dogs are notoriously obsequious, as is repeatedly stated throughout these entries. They are constantly seeking favor and social recognition. Dogs are also notorious lickers, and often known for licking less than luscious items, so we are not much surprised to find boots among them. Boot licking as a description seems to have fallen out of favor: perhaps this is because the licking of boots is increasingly associated with foot fetishes and bondage and discipline fantasies.

    July 11, 2009