sutler

/'sʌtlə/

Thân thiện

A sutler sells bread and cheese to soldiers at a camp.

Definition

1. 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.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a supplier of victuals or supplies to an army

Từ đồng nghĩa

• victualer
• victualler
• provisioner