Brownnoser

/ˈbraʊnˌnoʊzər/ noun

Definition

A person who flatters authority figures or acts obsequiously to gain favor or advancement.

Etymology

From 'brownnose' (verb) plus the agent suffix '-er', which creates nouns for people who perform an action; derived from slang origins in early 20th-century American English.

Kelly Says

In schools and workplaces everywhere, the 'brownnoser' is instantly recognized, and nearly every language has its own insulting term for this person—from French 'lèche-botte' (boot-licker) to Japanese 'goma-suri' (sesame grinder)—showing this behavior is universal to human hierarchies.

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