How the "fayot" became the generic term to designate a person flattering his superiors in order to attract their favor?
Stéphane Bern explains in his column on Europe 1 that this formula was forged in the 19th century by sailors ... disappointed by their meals.
It is commonly used to designate by the term "fayot" a person who tries to be seen well by his hierarchy. In his column on Europe 1, Monday, Stéphane Bern explains that the origin of this expression is to be found in the military navy in the nineteenth century.
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Beans at all meals
Because of their very low cost and ease of storage, beans were very often served on board as a meal.
They were rarely appreciated by 19th century sailors.
However, despite the poor food outlook, the latter almost systematically re-enlisted when their contracts came to an end.
By accepting the difficult conditions imposed by their bosses, they thus became "beans", that is to say people who were not very annoying and subject to the chief.
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Today, our English neighbors prefer to use the expression "bootlicker", literally a "bootlicker".
In Quebec, in a more flowery language, we say a "ass lick".
In conclusion, we will say that if some people sometimes have the reputation of being beans, it is perhaps because of their very particular syntax: subject - verb - compliment.