sutler
/'sʌtlə/
Definition
- Noun:
- A person who follows an army and sells provisions, food, and other goods to soldiers: A sutler is a civilian merchant who sells supplies to troops in the field or in camp, historically operating with official permission.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The sutler set up his wagon near the regiment's camp.
- Soldiers purchased tobacco and writing paper from the army sutler.
Advanced Usage
- Historical Context: The term is primarily used in historical discussions of military logistics, especially concerning 18th and 19th-century armies. It describes a specific, licensed role distinct from general merchants.
- In his research on the Napoleonic Wars, the historian detailed the crucial, though often resented, role of the sutler.
Variants and Related Words
- Sutlery (n, archaic): The business or goods of a sutler.
- The sutlery was known for its high prices.
Synonyms
- Vivandière (n, historical): A female sutler, especially in European armies.
- Camp follower: A broader term for civilians who follow an army, which can include sutlers, but also families, laborers, and others.
- Provisions merchant: A more general modern term.
Notes on Meaning
- The word "sutler" is now considered archaic. In modern military contexts, similar functions are performed by official post exchanges (PX), base exchanges (BX), or contracted services. The term carries a historical connotation and is rarely used to describe contemporary situations.
Noun
-
a supplier of victuals or supplies to an army
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