lick-spittler

The best way to grasp this term's meaning and etymology would be via the Oxford but membership (or the dictionary itself) is required.

Best I can find is here
http://judyhagey.com/word-of-the-week-lickspittle/

London is using it as a synonym for panderers, syncophants, toadies, etc. I've heard it used since childhood here in Canada (my dad, from the prairies, used it). He meant it in the same manner as London uses it - more colloquially than pander or syncophant, and more like toadie, though the formation he used was "lickspittle" without the final "r".

Haven't you seen a subordinate dog lick the drooling spittle from a dominant dog's mouth. It's a derogatory pirate's term for the modern day equivalent of corporate climbers from this observation.

Hey, Pharrell, sappenin dude. Gotta luv them derogatory pirates huh.

Watch out for them thar syncophants (sic) n their syncopation for all things piratical.

"Corporate climbers from this observation", is that your view from the crow's nest?