brownnose

verb

brown·nose ˈbrau̇(n)-ˌn�?z

brownnosed; brownnosing; brownnoses

informal + disparaging

: to ingratiate oneself with : curry favor with

brownnose noun

brownnoser noun

He has been brownnosing everyone in the company just to get a bigger office.

Etymology

from the implication that servility is equivalent to having one's nose in the anus of the person from whom advancement is sought

First Known Use

1938, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of brownnose was in 1938

See more words from the same year

Style

“Brownnose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brownnose. Accessed 27 Jan. 2025.

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