Bootlicker

/ˈbuːtlɪkər/ noun

Definition

A person who acts obsequiously toward someone in power; a servile flatterer, sycophant, or toady seeking favor through excessive deference.

Etymology

From 'bootlick' (to act servilely) plus '-er' suffix for a person, creating a noun for someone who bootlicks.

Kelly Says

Bootlickers appear in every organization—medieval kings had them, corporations have them, and sports teams have them, showing that hierarchies naturally create a class of people who gain status by proximity to power rather than by their own achievements.

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