Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun One who seeks or covets the society of titled persons; one who courts the acquaintance of celebrities at any sacrifice of personal dignity; a toady; a sycophant.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun Cant, Eng. A hanger-on to noblemen, or persons of quality, especially in English universities; a toady. See 1st
tuft , 3.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun UK, slang, archaic A
hanger-on tonoblemen or persons of quality, especially inEnglish universities ; atoady .
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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A tufthunter is a snob, a parasite is a snob, the man who allows the manhood within him to be awed by a coronet is a snob.
Thackeray Anthony Trollope 1848
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Randal had hitherto supposed that this notorious tufthunter, this dandy capitalist, this money-lender, whose whole fortune had been wrung from the wants and follies of an aristocracy, was naturally a firm supporter of things as they are -- how could things be better for men like Baron
My Novel — Volume 09 Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton 1838
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Randal had hitherto supposed that this notorious tufthunter, this dandy capitalist, this money-lender, whose whole fortune had been wrung from the wants and follies of an aristocracy, was naturally a firm supporter of things as they are -- how could things be better for men like Baron
My Novel — Complete Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton 1838
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You don’t need to know more about the mother-in-law than she is a tufthunter.
Writer Unboxed » Blog Archive » Secrets of the Silver Screen: Distinctive Characters 2007
sionnach commented on the word tufthunter
someone that seeks association with persons of title or high social status: snob; a toady
October 11, 2007
maggiemae commented on the word tufthunter
toady Synonyms toady, sycophant
March 22, 2015
maggiemae commented on the word tufthunter
toady Rhymes Cody, coyote, dhoti, Jody, peyote, Quixote, roady, throaty
March 22, 2015
qms commented on the word tufthunter
Their scorn could hardly be blunter
But insults or slights don’t affront her.
In rock she’s a “roadie,”
More generally - “toady,”
And formerly known as tufthunter.
Michael Quinion has an excellent discussion of this word at
http://www.worldwidewords.org/weirdwords/ww-tuf2.htm
April 25, 2018
bilby commented on the word tufthunter
I think you're confusing roadie with groupie.
April 25, 2018
qms commented on the word tufthunter
This is a problem in that groupie does not rhyme with toady. Can we suppose an especially abject roadie?
The measure of my knowledge of the culture of rock is probably a negative value. I am going to have to do some original thinking, unless of course the persuasive power of my application of roadie in this limerick has such influence that the common understanding of the word is changed. How long should I wait?
April 25, 2018
bilby commented on the word tufthunter
I'd quit the waiting and walk 500 miles. And 500 more. Worked for The Proclaimers.
April 25, 2018
qms commented on the word tufthunter
But insults or slights don’t affront her,
A compliant tool
Too ready to snool,
And formerly known as tufthunter.
April 25, 2018
qms commented on the word tufthunter
Google and I got that allusion and enjoyed a very amusing Youtube video.
April 25, 2018
alexz commented on the word tufthunter
(chorus)
Where women glow and men plunder?
Can't you hear, can't you hear tufthunter?
You better run, you better take cover
April 26, 2018
jennarenn commented on the word tufthunter
I always thought the song went:
Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder?
I have missed this. :)
April 27, 2018