loyal toast

English

Alternative forms

• Loyal Toast

Noun

loyal toast (plural loyal toasts)

1. A toast (salutation) made to the head of state at a formal gathering, sometimes (generally the first) within a sequence of similar toasts, the wording and order dictated by protocol; any toast of the sequence, made to one to whom loyalty is owed.
   • 1841, The Quarterly Magazine and Literary Journal of the United Ancient Order of Druids, volume 1, page 86:

     After the removal of the cloth, several excellent Songs, Toasts, and Sentiments, were given by the Brothers, amongst which, were the usual loyal Toasts of the Order.

   • 1993, Philip D. Morgan, Diversity and Unity in Early North America, page 135:

     At the conclusion of the dinner (taken at three o′clock in the afternoon) came a series of toasts. It seems these were always loyal toasts—to the king, the governor, and in time the Continental Congress—sometimes followed by one to “absent Friends.”

   • 1995, Conor Cruise O′Brien, Ancestral Voices: Religion and Nationalism in Ireland, page 4:

     Of course no proper nationalist would sing ‘God Save the King’ or stand for the loyal toast. But unionists (alias Protestants) were free to do so, and did. At Trinity College, Owen sat down for ‘God Save the King’ and the loyal toast.

   • 2002, Richard T. Sharpe, Whores, Wars And Waste: Antics of the Modern British Army, page 67:

     The dinner went well until the Loyal Toasts at the end of the meal. The PMC^{[President of the Mess Commanding]} stood and asked all to be upstanding for the Loyal Toast to Her Majesty the Queen. What the GSM^{[Garrison Sergeant Major]} had failed to remember was that the Royal Navy never stand for the Loyal Toast and that one of the regiments present (a Guards unit) never does a Loyal Toast as their loyalty to the sovereign is never in doubt.

Synonyms

• royal toast (to a monarch)