n. & v.
--n. (pl. -ies) a sycophant; an obsequious hanger-on.
--v.tr. & (foll. by to) intr. (-ies, -ied) behave servilely to; fawn upon.
Derivatives:
toadyish adj. toadyism n.
Etymology: contr. of toad-eater, a charlatan's attendant who ate toads (regarded as poisonous)