duchess
verbEtymology From Middle English duchesse, from Old French duchesse. Doublet of duchesse.
1
Australia, Informal to court or curry favour for political or business advantage; to flatter obsequiously.
- On arrival in England he was “duchessed” in a manner that no Australian Prime Minister has ever been “duchessed” before or since. Northcliffe was looking for someone around whom he could build a campaign against Asquith. Hughes filled the bill nicely.1956, John Thomas Lang, I Remember, page 64:
- ‘A word to the wise, Murray. Those wogs you′ve been duchessing at Ethnic Affairs have got nothing on the culture vultures. Tear the flesh right off your bones, they will.’1996, Shane Maloney, The Brush-Off, published 2003, page 46:
2 more examples
- The traditional version of Hughes′ decision to introduce conscription gives central importance to his visit to London in April 1916 where it is alleged he was duchessed and deceived concerning recruitment figures.2004, Humphrey McQueen, A New Britannia, Fourth Edition, page 66:
- But by 1914 Grayson had, according to Groves, been thoroughly duchessed, believing that he could enjoy the good things in life and still serve the cause.2006, Jacqueline Dickenson, Renegades and Rats: Betrayal and the Remaking of Radical Organisations in Britain and Australia, page 144: