3. To name when a health is proposed to be drunk; to drink to the
health, or in honor, of; as, to toast a lady.
Toast, n. [OF. toste, or tostée, toasted bread. See Toast, v.] 1. Bread
dried and browned before a fire, usually in slices; also, a kind of
food prepared by putting slices of toasted bread into milk, gravy, etc.
My sober evening let the tankard bless, With toast embrowned, and
fragrant nutmeg fraught.
T. Warton.
2. A lady in honor of whom persons or a company are invited to drink; —
so called because toasts were formerly put into the liquor, as a great
delicacy.
It now came to the time of Mr. Jones to give a toast . . . who could
not refrain from mentioning his dear Sophia.
Fielding.
3. Hence, any person, especially a person of distinction, in honor of
whom a health is drunk; hence, also, anything so commemorated; a
sentiment, as "The land we live in," "The day we celebrate," etc.
Toast rack, a small rack or stand for a table, having partitions for
holding slices of dry toast.
Toast"er (?), n. 1. One who toasts.