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.

---

Etymology

Origin of spear carrier

First recorded in 1950–55

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

spear carrier

He secured a job with the Royal Shakespeare Company at Stratford, where his first recorded role was as a spear carrier in a 1954 production of Othello.

From BBC ● Jun. 19, 2020

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

Mr. Neumann had a small part — “a spear carrier or something,” his son said — and from then on was hooked on the theater.

From New York Times ● Dec. 6, 2012

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

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

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---