flunky

or flun·key

[fluhng-kee]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR flunky ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural flun·kies.

a male servant in livery.

an assistant who does menial work.

a toady; yes-man.

Origin of flunky

First recorded in 1775–85; perhaps alteration of flanker

Related formsflun·ky·ism, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for flunky

gofer, lackey, servant, drudge, steward, sycophant, snob, toady, footman

Examples from the Web for flunky

Historical Examples of flunky

"You can wait in there; I'll see if Miss Stanton is in," said the flunky, as he turned on his heel.
The Music Master
Charles Klein
"Yes, sir," replied the flunky, moving toward the sideboard.
Peter
F. Hopkinson Smith
"I'll go and ask if she'll see you," said the flunky unwillingly.
Cast Upon the Breakers
Horatio Alger
He did protest then that any flunky on the Base could read it to the crowd as well as he.
Human Error
Raymond F. Jones
His is the only house upon this island; also, I am his flunky and so I ought to know.
Pastoral Affair
Charles A. Stearns

British Dictionary definitions for flunky

flunky

flunkey

noun plural flunkies or flunkeys

a servile or fawning person

a person who performs menial tasks

usually derogatory a manservant in livery

Word Origin for flunky

C18: of unknown origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for flunky

also flunkey, 1782, Scottish dialect, "footman, liveried servant," of uncertain origin, perhaps a diminutive variant of flanker. Sense of "flatterer, toady" first recorded 1855.