kowtow

Noun

• a former Chinese custom of touching the ground with the forehead as a sign of respect or submission

Verb

• try to gain favor by cringing or flattering
  • He is always kowtowing to his boss
    

• bend the knees and bow in a servile manner

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  kotow , fawn , toady , truckle , bootlick , suck up , scrape , genuflect