The Collaborative International Dictionary
Pickthank \Pick"thank`\, n. One who strives to put another under obligation; an officious person; hence, a flatterer. Used also adjectively.
Smiling pickthanks, and base newsmongers.
--Shak.
Wiktionary
n. A sycophant, a yes-man.
Usage examples of "pickthank".
Then was Pickthank sworn, and bid say what he knew, in behalf of their lord the king, against the prisoner at the bar.
When this Pickthank had told his tale, the Judge directed his speech to the prisoner at the bar, saying, Thou runagate, heretic, and traitor, hast thou heard what these honest gentlemen have witnessed against thee?
The proper attitude toward such fathers is that of the toad, lickspittle, smell-feast, carpet knight, pickthank, or tuft-hunter.
Pickthank hath said, I say (avoiding terms, as that I am said to rail, and the like) that the prince of this town, with all the rabblement, his attendants, by this gentleman named, are more fit for a being in hell, than in this town and country: and so, the Lord have mercy upon me!