(n.) The practice of seeking after, and hanging on, noblemen, or persons of quality, especially in English universities.

ass-kissing backscratching bootlicking brown-nosing cringing fawnery fawning flunkyism footlicking groveling handshaking ingratiation insinuation mealymouthedness obeisance obsequiousness parasitism prostration sponging sycophancy timeserving toadeating toadying toadyism truckling tufthunting