spear carrier

American  

Or spear-carrier

noun

1. a supernumerary in a theatrical or operatic production, as one of a group of soldiers or a member of a crowd; extra.

2. any minor member of a group, profession, political party, etc.; subordinate; underling.

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Etymology

Origin of spear carrier

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

He added that he attended the conference as a "foot soldier and spear carrier of the Conservative Party, purely in a supportive role to remind the world of what we did in Glasgow".

From BBC • Nov. 7, 2022

The Mets, it seems, have traded away a fellow who went from a hard-nosed, error-prone spear carrier into a rough approximation of George Brett.

From Washington Post • Jun. 30, 2016

Within six weeks I was performing as a spear carrier in 'Saint Joan' with Siobhan McKenna and rehearsing 'Hamlet.'

From Seattle Times • Jun. 19, 2011

He made additional money as an extra in the Metropolitan Opera chorus, where he was a spear carrier who was told never to sing.

From New York Times • Dec. 27, 2010

Stopping a super, he asked for Miss Luft’s dressing room; the super, wearing makeup and the costume of an Egyptian spear carrier, pointed.

From "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K. Dick