n. & v.
--n.
1. bread in slices browned on both sides by radiant heat.
2 a a person (orig. esp. a woman) or thing in whose honour a company is requested to drink. b a call to drink or an instance of drinking in this way.
--v.
1. tr. cook or brown (bread, a teacake, cheese, etc.) by radiant heat.
2 intr. (of bread etc.) become brown in this way.
3 tr. warm (one's feet, oneself, etc.) at a fire etc.
4 tr. drink to the health or in honour of (a person or thing).
Phrases and idioms:
have a person on toast colloq. be in a position to deal with a person as one wishes. toasting-fork a long-handled fork for making toast before a fire. toast rack a rack for holding slices of toast at table.
Etymology: ME (orig. as verb) f. OF toster roast, ult. f. L torrere tost- parch: sense 2 of the noun reflects the notion that a woman's name flavours the drink as spiced toast would