bootlicky

English

Alternative forms

• boot-licky

Etymology

From bootlick +‎ -y.

Adjective

bootlicky (comparative bootlickier, superlative bootlickiest)

1. (informal, derogatory) Prone to bootlicking; obsequious; servile.
   • 1991 February 8, “Sen. Simpson And Peter Arnett”, in The Washington Post‎:

     If Peter Arnett had been anywhere near as bootlicky and obsequious with Saddam Hussein as Alan Simpson was in a visit to the Iraqi dictator last April, we could understand why the CNN correspondent was being assaulted for his interviews and coverage.

   • 2012, David M. Jessup, Mariano's Crossing‎, page 134:

     Getting scolded like a child was hard to take, especially in front of her. But he couldn’t blame Pa after what happened yesterday. So he gave Pa a nod that he hoped wasn’t too bootlicky and turned Old Dun toward the Crossing.

   • 2024, Diana Rubino, Mrs. Aaron Burr, I'm Eliza To You‎, unnumbered page:

     He gave me a blow low enough to look gentlemanly, not bootlicky.

   • For more quotations using this term, see Citations:bootlicky.