v. rare. [Back-formation from TOAD-EATER.] trans. To flatter, fawn upon (a person); to toady. Also intr. So Toad-eating vbl. sb. and ppl. a.
1766. Lady S. Lennox, in Life & Lett. (1901), I. 199. I have got Charles into such order, that … he toad eats me beyond all conception.
1767. Lady S. Bunbury, in Jesse, Selwyn & Contemp. (1843), II. 175. I toad-eat a little cur that is here, only because his name is Raton.
1791. Earl Mornington, in 14th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 7. Some verses which I took down … as being the excess of toad-eating. Ibid. (1799), in Stanhope, Pitt, III. 191. The delight of being toad-eated by all India from Cabul to Assam.
1831. Jekyll, Corr. (1894), 273. Puffing himself in newspapers, and toad-eating Princes and Ministers.
1836–7. Dickens, Sk. Boz, Horatio Sparkins. ‘Decidedly,’ said the toad-eating Flamwell.
1880. Miss Braddon, Just as I am, xlv. A real sister has no motive for such toad-eating.
