What does "Do I have to pull my forelock for you now?" mean?

What does it mean when someone says to you (especially if you have recently been bestowed a new honor), "Do I have to pull my forelock for you now?"

Solution 1:

Pulling or Tugging your forelock literally means pulling on your hair at the front middle as you bow your head, and historically was a sign given to a superior upon encountering them (similar to a salute in the military).

For example a peasant might tug their forelock to their lord. It's rather like tipping your hat both literally and figuratively, but much more about rank than respect and no headgear is required.

Solution 2:

Because the Western world no longer observes the custom of having a tenant or laborer pull his forelock as a sign of respect when the lord or squire passes by, alluding facetiously to performing the old custom is a way of sarcastically asking someone whether the deferential person (the one asking the question) has been sufficiently obsequious already or whether further self-humbling is necessary to satisfy the other person. Of course, being sarcastic, the question isn't obsequious in the least.

Depending on the relationship between the speaker and the hearer(s), the question "Do I have to pull my forelock for you now?" may be intended in a light-hearted, good-humored way or in a rather bitter way.

Solution 3:

"pulling forelock" or "tugging [your] forelock means "show deference" or grovel: supposedly tugging at the front of one's hair (a forelock) was a sort of salute or sign or respect by someone, especially a peasant, to their better.