subs. (old).—A toady: also as adj. and verb.—AWDELEY (1567); B. E. (c. 1696); GROSE (1785).

1

  1412.  OCCLEVE, De Regimine Principum [Roxburgh Club], 110.

                        He never denyethe
His lordes resons, but, a THANKE TO PIKE.

2

  1512–3.  DOUGLAS, Virgil, Prol. 238, b. 55. Sum prig penny, sum PYKE THANK with preuy promit.

3

  1513–25.  SKELTON, Magnyfycence [DYCE, Works, ii. 60], l. 1267.

          Fol.  There be two lyther, rude and ranke,
Symkyn Tytyuell and PERS PYKTHANKE.

4

  1516.  MORE, Utopia, i. He is ashamed to say that which is said already, or else to PICK A THANK with his prince.

5

  d. 1577.  GASCOIGNE, The Arraignment of a Lover [ARBER, English Garner, I. 63].

        A pack of PICKTHANKS were the rest,
Which came false witness for to bear.

6

  1580.  J. LYLY, Euphues, A4, b. Fine heads will PICK a quarrell with me, if all be not curious, and flatterers A THANKE if anie thing be currant.

7

  1598.  SHAKESPEARE, 1 Henry IV., iii. 2.

        Which oft the ear of greatness needs must hear,
By smiling PICK-THANKS and base newsmongers.

8

  1603.  KNOLLES, The Generall Historie of the Turkes, p. 108. Whereunto were joyned also the hard speeches of her PICKTHANKE fauourits, who to currie Fauell, spared not to put oyle as it were ynto the fire.

9

  d. 1612.  HARINGTON, Epigrams, 55.

        Or doth he mean that thou would’st PICK A THANK.
No sure, for of that fault I count thee frank.

10

  1628.  WITHER, Britain’s Remembrancer, 89. By slavish fawning or by PICKING THANKS.

11

  d. 1682.  SIR T. BROWNE, Christian Morals, i. 20. Be deaf unto the suggestions of tale-bearers, calumniators, PICKTHANK or malevolent delators.

12

  c. 1687.  BUCKINGHAM, Works (1705), ii. 118. They … insinuated themselves into the familys of the poor good natured tenants; then they carry’d PICKTHANK stories from one to another.

13

  1740.  R. NORTH, Examen, 278. He did it to PICKTHANK an opportunity of getting more money.

14