smell-feastn.
1.
a. One who scents out where feasting is to be had; one who comes uninvited to share in a feast; a parasite, a greedy sponger. Now archaic (very common c1540–1700).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > commendation or praise > flattery or flattering > servile flattery or currying favour > [noun] > servile flatterer > parasite
clienta1393
lick-dishc1440
maunche present1440
scambler?a1513
smell-feast1519
parasite1539
hanger-on1549
parasitaster1552
waiter at the table1552
lick-trencher1571
hang-by1579
shadow1579
trencher-fly1590
trencher-friend1590
fawnguest1592
pot-hunter1592
lick-spigot1599
trencherman1599
shark1600
tub-hunter1600
zany1601
lick-box1611
by-hangera1626
cosherer1634
shirk1639
panlicker1641
clientelary1655
tantony1659
led friend1672
sponger1677
fetcher and carrier1751
myrmidon1800
trencher-licker1814
onhanger1821
tag-tail1835
sponge1838
lick-ladle1849
lick-platter1853
sucker1856
freeloader1933
bludger1938
ligger1977
joyrider1990
1519 W. Horman Vulgaria vii. f. 77* Smellefyestes, lycke dysshes, and franchars come vncalled.
1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes f. 199 Parasites, wer called suche smellefeastes as would seeke to bee free geastes at riche mennes tables.
1602 F. Herring tr. J. Oberndorf Anatomyes True Physition 13 Our Smell-feast will be sure to haunt the Houses and Tables of Rich and great Men.
1664 H. More Modest Enq. Myst. Iniquity 21 Like so many smell-feasts they hankered near the Altars to enjoy the nidorous fumes.
1692 R. L'Estrange Fables (1694) 33 The Fly is an intruder and a common Smell-feast that spunges upon other people's trenchers.
1708 O. Dykes Moral Reflexions Eng. Prov. 163 The Flatteries of Sicophants and Smell-Feasts.
1869 R. Browning Ring & Bk. III. viii. 92 The smell-feasts rouse them at the hint There's cookery in a certain dwelling-place!
1884 Miss Dillwyn Jill II. ix. 135 That smell-feast of a Sue meanwhile had profited by the commotion.
b. attributive. Parasitic, sponging.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > commendation or praise > flattery or flattering > servile flattery or currying favour > [adjective] > parasitical or sponging
parasiticala1566
smell-feast1566
spongy1602
sharking1608
parasitic1630
sponging1699
coshering1727
scunging1843
freeloading1941
1566 T. Drant tr. Horace Medicinable Morall sig. Iij I am a smelfeaste bellygod, Idle and full of slouthe.
1609 P. Holland tr. Ammianus Marcellinus Rom. Hist. 339 These smel-feast-parasites in comedies.
1642 T. Fuller Holy State iv. xx. 343 These smell-feast birds..came to feed on their carcases.
1772 T. Nugent tr. J. F. de Isla Hist. Friar Gerund II. 67 Some smell-feast friars of different communities.
2. ‘A feast at which the guests are supposed to feed upon the odors only of the viands’ (Webster, 1864).
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
<
n.1519