Definitions For Toadeater

Noun

TOADEATER (plural TOADEATERs) A fawning, obsequious parasite; a mean sycophant or flatterer.

Etymology

toad + mountebanks, who would hire a boy to eat (or pretend to eat) toads, which many had considered poisonous. the toadeater (or "toady") would writhe in pain, until the quack gave him some "medicine", and then try to impress upon the crowd that the boy was cured. compare {{m/">eater, said to allude to an old alleged practice among mountebanks, who would hire a boy to eat (or pretend to eat) toads, which many had considered poisonous. the toadeater (or "toady") would writhe in pain, until the quack gave him some "medicine", and then try to impress upon the crowd that the boy was cured. compare {{m + en + toady}}.