Obs. [See CURRY v.1 5 a.] One who solicits favor by flattery or complaisance.
1515. State Papers, II. 15 (N.). All the curryfavel, that be next of the deputye is secrete counsayll, dare not … shewe hym the greate jupardye … of his soule.
1530. Palsgr., 211/2. Curryfavell, a flatterar, estrille faueav.
1589. Puttenham, Eng. Poesie, III. xxiv. (Arb.), 299. Sometimes a creeper, and a curry fauell with his superiors.
b. (See quot.)
1589. Puttenham, Eng. Poesie, III. xvii. (Arb.), 195. If such moderation of words tend to flattery, or soothing, or excusing, it is by the figure Paradiastole, which therfore nothing improperly we call the Curry-fauell, as when we make the best of a bad thing.
