sutler

American  

[suht-ler] / ˈsʌt lər /

noun

1. (formerly) a person who followed an army or maintained a store on an army post to sell provisions to the soldiers.

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sutler British  

/ ˈsʌtlə /

noun

1. (formerly) a merchant who accompanied an army in order to sell provisions to the soldiers

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Other Word Forms

• sutlership noun

Etymology

Origin of sutler

1580–90; < early Dutch soeteler (now zoetelaar ), equivalent to soetel ( en ) to do dirty work, work poorly (akin to soot ) + -er -er ¹

Example Sentences

Weigel’s might have been purchased from one of the traveling vendors, or “sutlers,” who followed the armies.

From Seattle Times

League topgallant jury mast sutler barque reef grog.

From Seattle Times

“Well, the rebels says we can’t carry firelocks with their army. Heard this from a sutler. You hear this?”

From Literature

The merchants, called “sutlers,” set up shop at military encampments and sold supplies to soldiers.

From Seattle Times

In a maze of colour and guy-ropes, of tent-pegs and tall spears, of chessplayers and sutlers, of tapestried interiors and of gold plate, Arthur of England had sat down to starve his friend.

From Literature