camp follower
Trailing military civilian
A camp follower is a civilian who trails a military force, historically including merchants, prostitutes, and family members who provided services or sought protection.
The term now applies more broadly to anyone who attaches themselves to a group without being a full member—a hanger-on or opportunistic associate: The candidate attracted the usual camp followers looking for patronage.
Military camp merchant
- laundressWoman who washes clothes
- baggage trainMilitary logistics convoy
- provisionerSupplier of food stores
- quartermasterOfficer managing military supplies
wagon train · bivouac · garrison · barracks · mess · rations · campaign · march
sutler
Military camp merchant
- laundressWoman who washes clothes
- baggage trainMilitary logistics convoy
- provisionerSupplier of food stores
quartermaster · wagon train · bivouac · garrison · barracks · mess · rations · campaign · march · regiment
fan
Admirer or air mover
- admirerOne who esteems another
- devoteeZealous admirer or follower
- hanger-onOpportunistic social dependent
entourage · roadie · stalker · worshiper · sycophant · fangirl · fanboy · backstage · autograph · celebrity
partisan
Biased toward one side
- loyalistFaithful supporter of authority
- sycophantServile praise-giver
- yes-manUncritical agreeable subordinate
hanger-on · apparatchik · lackey · toady · minion · flunky · acolyte · disciple · ally · supporter
- hangers-onhanger-on, tagalong, leech, parasite, freeloader
- soldiersinfantryman, private, grenadier, grenadiers, fusilier
- supplierssupplier, provisioner, purveyor, vendor, merchant
- military womenservicewoman, female soldier, female officer, female veteran, WAC
- peddlerspeddler, hawker, vendor, street vendor, pushcart
camp followerenlisted soldier
Non-officer in armed forces
serviceman · combatant · commissioned officer · military personnel · trooper
camp followerleader
One who guides others
founder · principal · central figure · prime mover · key player
camp followerpioneer
Early explorer or settler
trailblazer · originator · freethinker · independent thinker · innovator
follower, campfire, camping, camps, decamp, campground, encampment, encamp, decamping